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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 71

Hong Kong Plague 1894, silver issue (Private E. Davies, S.L.I.) edge bruising, signs of brooch mounting to reverse, very fine

The Hong Kong Plaque Medal is known to have been awarded to Privates Edward and Enoch Davies, Shropshire Light Infantry; sold together with copied service papers for both men.

The Whitewash Brigade

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".'

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Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550