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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 311

(x) Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The outstanding group of four awarded to Commissioner of Police K. J. McEuen, Shanghai Municipal Police, a central figure in this pivotal period

China, Republic, Order of the Golden Grain, neck Badge, 63mm, silver-gilt and enamel, silver marks to loop, with full neck riband as worn; Shanghai Municipal Police Long Service, 1 clasp, 1921-1925 (Commissioner K. J. McEuen.); China, Republic, Order of the Striped Tiger, breast Badge, 3 Stars on Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, local characters to reverse; Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain, centre with red cabochon and enhanced with a ring of seed pearls, these last three mounted as worn, this last lacking a number of the pearls, good very fine (4)

18 men held the senior position of the Shanghai Municipal Police during its existence from 1854-1943. The rank evolved from Superintendent, to Captain Superintendent, and then to Commissioner of Police.

Kenneth John McEuen was born at Hong Kong on 24 July 1879, the son of James Painter McEuen, Captain Superintendent of the Shanghai Police, late Royal Navy and Harbour Master, Hong Kong. Young McEuen was educated at Felsted and joined the Shanghai Municipal Police (No. 1519) as a Cadet in April 1900. Eventually rising to be Commissioner of Police, he served for a remarkable quarter of a century during some of the most turbulent times in the Far East, being Captain Superintendent from 1914-25.

A key member of the Settlement, McEuen was the Starter for the Shanghai Race Club and also owned a good number of horses, with Sandringham taking the Pari-Mutuel Stakes in 1911. Besides this he and several family members also turned out for the Shanghai Cricket Club. Indeed, his retirement followed the events of 30 May 1925, when members of his force opened fire on Chinese protesters in the International Settlement. McEuen himself was not present - due to his requirement in attending the Race Clubs Meeting that day - and Inspector Edward William Everson gave the order to fire, which cost the lives of 11 at the scene. Strikes and martial law followed and McEuen and Everson retired.

Nonetheless, his tenure was a remarkable one. He married Oda Kimi, a Japanese citizen and settled there, with issue of three daughters and a son. At the start of the Second World War, he assisted and was widely praised by the Government for his work towards the effort and died on 28 March 1944.

Sold together with an original archive comprising:

i)
Police Long Service Medal Certificate of Award, confirming the Medal for 19 April 1900-18 April 1920 and the clasp for 1921-1925.

ii)
A series of seven Contracts of Employment.

iii)
Five large-format appointments of thanks from the Japanese Government, Army & Navy, during the period 1941-42, for his assistance to the War Effort, including several from Tojo.

iv)
A series of photographs of the recipient, his family and the Force, besides his whistle and two prints by Snaffles.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£6,000 to £8,000

Starting price
£5500