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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 57

Hong Kong Plague 1894 (Private R. Tranter. S.L.I.), edge bruising, nearly very fine

Richard Tranter was born at Holmer, Hereford, Herefordshire in May 1871 and enlisted with the Shropshire Light Infantry on 22 June 1892 (No. 3713). He was posted to Hong Kong on 15 December 1893, serving there for the next year. Whilst he was there the devastating Hong Kong Plague, a variation of the Black Death, struck within the city and the Regiment was utilised for a number of tasks.

The role of the K.S.L.I. is outlined well by an article on the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum website which states:

'Those responsible for conducting house inspections, as well as disinfecting them, became known as the Whitewash Brigade - and this is where the KSLI came into action. Due to being stationed out in Hong Kong at the time of the outbreak, KSLI volunteers sprang into action to begin supressing the disease. Amongst other things, the KSLI were responsible for spraying/fumigating houses, whitewashing walls with lime and even clearing corpses out of houses. Those having their houses inspected would be given clean clothes and their own clothes would be sent to a disinfecting station. An article from the 1939 Hong Kong Press wrote that although the job of the KSLI was "gruesome", it was "not altogether unpopular with the soldiers. Military discipline of the Barrack Square had to disappear and with a generous rum ration, given with a view to warding off infection, they carried out their strange duties with the utmost cheerfulness".'

Posted to India the next year on 22 December 1894 Tranter committed a number of breaches in discipline here, culminating in him striking a superior officer and being imprisoned for a year. At the end of his sentence he was dishonourably discharged in India on 20 September 1902; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800