The Pridi Banomyong Library Rare Book Room, Thammasat University, Tha Prachan campus, owns a number of rare and useful items of potential interest to students and researchers, especially those interested in history, literature, education, political science, Asian studies, and related subjects.
Among them is the book A History of Siam (1926).
Its author is William Alfred Rae Wood, a British diplomat who lived most of his life in Thailand.
He began working as an interpreter at the British Legation in Bangkok in 1896, and became the British Consul-General in Chiang Mai in 1921.
He retired from office in 1931, and later took up teaching English in Chiang Mai, where he permanently settled down.
He was a well-known figure in the expatriate British community, and wrote several books, including Consul in Paradise (1965), a memoir covering his life in Thailand, and A History of Siam, which was regarded as a standard work of the time.
The TU Library collection also includes a number of other books by W.A.R. Wood.
When he died, a note in the Journal of the Siam Society observed:
After leaving school Wood travelled in Switzerland and Germany, studying French and German, and returned to England in 1895 to prepare for the examination for Student interpreters in the Far East. Success in that examination brought him, in June 1896, to Thailand, appointed, as he loved to recall, to the British Consular Service by Queen Victoria.
Here he lived for the rest of his life-over 73 years. His first appointment was in Bangkok, as a Student Interpreter at the British Legation. Many of the more unusual jobs devolved upon the young Wood’s shoulders: as he remarks in his autobiography, “at the age of eighteen I found myself dealing with rugged sailors from the sailing ships, drunken guests at the Ambassador’s garden party, and starting a racing stable with one pony”.
During the next 35 years he was at various times stationed at Bangkok, Chiengrai, Nan, Lam pang and Songkhla. He was appointed Consul in Chiangmai in 1914, Consul-General in 1921 and retired in 19 31. For a period he was a Traveiling District Judge, in the days of extraterritoriality when European powers maintained their own courts for their own subjects in Siam.
From the first he was attracted and fascinated by Thailand and its people, which he has described with a fine sense of humour and an obvious affection in “Consul in Paradise”, a lively and eclectic account of his years in this country.
Wood was a frequent contributor of short stories and factual pieces to the local press, and his ”History of Siam”, published in 1926, was considered a standard work. During the Second World War he was interned as an enemy alien, but in his later years dismissed this period saying tbat “he had forgiven everything”.
After retirement Wood continued to live in Cbiangmai with his wife Boon Chitrapricha, whom be married in 1906, and his daughter Rose.
His years of retirement were devoted mainly to the teaching of English to young Thais, an occupation which be modestly described as “not entirely useless”, and which certainly won him the affection of many of the younger generation.
His death on 21st January this year much saddened the British community in Thailand and Wood’s many Thai friends and admirers.
In a message of condolence to Wood’s widow, the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said “His long life in Thailand stands as a fine example to all”, a sentiment which will be shared by all who knew Wood and many who had only heard of him.
Here is an excerpt from his History of Siam:
In 1855 Sir John Bowring visited Bangkok and concluded a Treaty between Siam and Great Britain, parts of which are still in force. The principal features of this Treaty, and of a supplementary Agreement signed the following year, were the establishment of Consular Jurisdiction, the restriction of residence for British subjects, and the limitation of the import duties. British Consular Jurisdiction was practically abolished in northern Siam by the Treaty of 1883, and in the rest of .the Kingdom by that of 1909, since which year British subjects enjoy full residential rights.
Similar Treaties were later entered into with most other foreign Powers, the last one, with Japan, being signed as late as 1898.
In 1867 Cambodia, which had been tributary to Siam for several hundred years, became a French Protectorate, except the provinces of Battambang and Siemrap, which remained Siamese until 1907.
In 1868 (October ist) King Rama IV died, and was succeeded by his son, King Chulalongkorn, who assumed the title of P’ra Chula Chom Klao, and is now known as Rama V.
The chief events of this long and memorable reign were the institution of posts, telegraphs, and railways, and the remodelling of the Courts of Justice and the whole system of administration on Western lines.
In 1893 difficulties arose with France, which resulted in the payment by Siam of an indemnity of 3,000,000 francs, and the cession of certain territory, including a portion of the State of Luang P’rabang. The rest of Luang P’rabang was ceded to France in 1907.
The greatest title to fame possessed by King Rama V was, without doubt, the abolition of slavery, which, after being gradually modified, was finally done away with in 1905. For this alone King Rama V deserves to bear the title of ” Great/’ which has been applied in this book only to two other Kings of Siam, namely Ramk’amheng of Suk’ot’ai and Naresuen of Ayut’ia.
During the reign of King Rama V the office of Maha Uparat (called by Europeans the “Second King”), which had been retained from ancient times, was finally abolished on the death of the last Maha Uparat in 1885.
King Rama V died on October 24th, 1910, and was succeeded by his son, King Maha Vajiravudh, who assumed in 1911 the title of Rama VI.
King Rama VI was born on January ist, 1881. During his reign he set himself to follow the path of progress trodden by his father and grandfather, and the high position now occupied by Siam among the nations of the world is sufficient proof of his success.
Siam entered the Great War on the side of the Allies in 1917, and a small but extremely efficient Expeditionary Force was sent to Europe. This step greatly strengthened the bonds of friendship between Siam and her neighbours, Great Britain and France.
Towards the end of King Rama’s reign new Treaties were concluded with the United States, France, Great Britain (the last in I925),>and all the other foreign Powers with interests in Siam, providing for the ultimate fiscal and judicial autonomy of the Kingdom. Siam is now, therefore, completely independent, and practically released from foreign control, direct or indirect.
King Rama VI died on November 26th, 1925. His only child was a daughter, born the day before his death. He was, therefore, succeeded by his youngest and only surviving full-brother, Prajadhipok, the present reigning monarch.
King Prajadhipok was born on November 8th, 1893. He married in 1918 a daughter of his uncle, Prince Svasti, but has, as yet, no offspring.
All the new King’s measures, since he ascended the throne, have been such as to inspire a feeling of confidence and optimism throughout his realm. May he long be spared to guide his people along the path of prosperity and progress.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)