TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Capt. J. G. Forbes. 2/Shrops. L.I.);
KSA (2) (Capt. J. G. Forbes. Shrop. L.I.);
1914-15 Star (Major J. G. Forbes. Shrops. L.I.);
British War and Victory Medals (Major J. G. Forbes.);
1911 Coronation (Major J. G. Forbes), privately engraved naming;

Together with Hong Kong Plague 1894, gold issue, unmounted (Captain J. G. Forbes, S.L.I.), in red leather Wyon, Regent St, London case.

John George Forbes was born on 2 February at Melbourne, Victoria, the son of John G. Forbes, a barrister. By 1881 the family were living in Cheltenham, with young Forbes a scholar, likely at Cheltenham College. He then went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Shropshire Light Infantry in June 1886. Joining the station at Hong Kong, being a keen horseman, he was a member of the Hong Kong Polo Club by 1893 and Adjutant of his unit.

Whitewash Brigade

A virulent epidemic of bubonic plague broke out in Hong Kong in early May 1894. Recognising the danger, the Governor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., gathered all the resources available to him, both military and civil, to combat the threat. Special bye-laws were quickly passed and implemented, and temporary plague hospitals were opened. The task of finding, isolating, disinfecting and cleansing infected households was directed by Mr F. H. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police and supervised by Mr J. H. Crook the Sanitary Surveyor. To supplement the local authorities and native labour, Officers and men of the Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Engineers were drawn in to help with the cleansing operations, and Volunteers for house-to-house visitations were sought amongst the civil population. The population in infected areas were removed and infected houses were rigorously cleansed - floors disinfected, walls, woodwork and furniture thoroughly lime-washed, and bedding, old clothing, old woodwork and general rubbish burnt. Elsewhere, doctors, nurses and ancillary staff worked heroically amongst the sick and dying.

Forbes volunteered and went out on plague duties to relieve other officers as a house-to-house visitor, and doubtless would have followed the official guidelines in helping to combat the spread of the Plague:

1. Keep separate clothes for working in, which should be changed on returning off duty and kept hung up in the air and sun when not in use.
2. On returning off duty wash the hands in water and Jeyes’ fluid (1 in 20), and if possible take a bath of the same solution.
3. Also rinse the mouth out with Condy’s fluid and water (one teaspoonful to one quart of water).
4. Saturate the handkerchief with Eucalyptus oil when going on duty and apply it frequently to the nose if in an infected house.
5. Smoke.

Despite all the precautions taken, over 2,500 people, mainly Chinese, contracted the plague, with 2,317 deaths attributed to the disease, a fatality rate of over 90%. That saw a brother officer of the unit, Captain Vesey pass of the plague. Forbes was a pall bearer at his funeral on 5 June when he was buried in the Happy Valley Cemetery.

The plague subsided with the arrival of cold weather, and restrictions were lifted in early September. On 28 September 1894 a public meeting was held at City Hall for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to recognise the services rendered by the community in combating the plague, and ultimately it was decided that a medal should be awarded, in both gold and silver. His name was one of approximately 13 officers who would take the medal in gold.

He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War in South Africa (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps, King's Medal & 2 clasps) and by 1907 was in command of the Depot Troops at Shrewsbury.

With the outbreak of the Great War, Forbes would see himself proceed overseas as Second-in-Command of the 5th Battalion. They had been formed at Shrewsbury in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under orders of 42nd Brigade in 14th (Light) Division. Moved initially to Aldershot, and then went on to Chiddingfold in March 1915, they landed on 20 May 1915 at Boulogne. Forbes would remain in the front lines with his men until removed to England, having celebrated his fiftieth birthday at the start of that year. In the following years his name appears as having been involved in the prosecution of Military Court Martial proceedings at home. He was further involved in the compilation, publication and distribution of the Regimental History of the Great War. The good Major, who later lived at 51a Jermyn Street, died on 12 October 1937 as is commemorated upon a marble memorial at St Chad's, Shrewsbury.

The Plague Medal - how many?

No complete medal roll for the Hong Kong Plague Medal is known to exist, with much of the Colony’s archival material having been destroyed during the Second World War; consequently, the number of medals awarded is a matter of conjecture. Mr. F. Pridmore, in an article for the Spink Numismatic Circular, August 1954, states that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, together with 13 being awarded to the officers of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry; Jerome Platt, Maurice Jones, and Arleen Platt in The Whitewash Brigade again estimate that 137 gold medals were awarded to civilians, and increase the number awarded to the military garrison to 46, as well as giving a total of 636 silver medals awarded. It is the opinion of the cataloguer that the figure slightly shy of fifty was the total amount of awards struck and issued in gold, not in excess of one hundred.

It is however the result of an incorrect transposition in a previous newspaper article that these figures have been calculated. On reflection, it would also surely have been impractical - and unlikely given the amount of individuals who would possibly qualify - for such a large distribution in gold. Many have likely to have been scrapped for the value of the gold content by now, but around 20 known extant awards in gold have been recorded over the years.

Given that the medal, as the gift of a Colonial Government and not one proceeding (or depicting) the monarch, was not authorised for wear. It could be accepted and retained, but as a commemorative/gift, could not be worn in uniform and thus most gold medals remained unmounted, much like this very example.

There is a range of medals to the Shropshire Light Infantry, including QSAs, in the next Spink auction on 24 July 2025: www.spink.com/auction/25002

Picture courtesy of Spink

Afghanistan (0) (2nd Lt. A. H. J. Doyle. 85th Foot.);
QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1902 (Major. A. H. J. Doyle. 2/Shrops. L.I.). Copy SA02 clasp.

MID London Gazette 10 September 1901.

Arthur Havelock James Doyle was born at Clifton, Gloucestershire on 25 February 1858 the youngest son of the well-known poet, Professor Sir Francis Hasting Charles Doyle, 2nd Baronet Buscombe. Interestingly his grandfather was also a soldier, Major-General Sir Francis Doyle, his grandfather on his mother's side was the M.P. Charles Williams-Wynn. The younger Doyle was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he earned recognition for his study of fortifications. Whilst there he developed his language skills, becoming fluent in both French and German.

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 85th Foot on 30 January 1878 he travelled with the Battalion to India on 19 September 1878. Whilst they were stationed there the War in Afghanistan which had appeared won flared back into life with the storming of the Kabul Residency. The King's Shropshire Light Infantry were posted to the Kurrum Valley field force and there took part in the Zaimusht Expedition.

The Zaimusht tribe lived above the Kurrum Road, the Battalion formed part of a punitive expedition force them into compliance and prevent them attacking British supply lines. They climbed through the narrow passes and Hills, finally succeeding in storming the mountain fastness of Zawa in which the tribe had taken refuge, this action (in which Doyle took part) effectively ended the tribes' resistance.

Doyle must have performed well during the war because he was advanced Lieutenant on 19 July 1880. Still with the Battalion the next year he was with them when they were posted to Natal on 8 March 1881, serving with the Natal Field Force there until 7 December. Returning to Britian they were amalgamated with the 53rd Foot to form the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Doyle was advanced Captain in this newly formed unit on 21 June 1885.

The next year he attended the School of Instruction and completed a course in Musketry which saw him acquire a first class certificate. Still in Britian Doyle left the Regiment to pursue staff work, finding himself appointed as A.D.C. to Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, then the G.O.C. Forces in Ireland on 2 February 1887. He held this position for three years during the fraught political turmoil caused by the Home Rule debate however Doyle eventually returned to his Regiment on 30 September 1890.

Advanced Major on 19 August 1897 he was still serving in this role on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Doyle did not immediately join his unit in South Africa but was posted to join 2nd Battalion in the Spring 1900, when they were in the Orange Free State. Reaching them in May he was present for the hard fought action of Houtnek, where they received high praise for their action. Further fighting followed in April and May on the Vet and Zand rivers.

This was followed up by Operations in the Transvaal from May-June 1900 including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria which continued into November and included the action at Elands River. Finally he joined the unit in the Orange River Colony from May 1900 where he again saw action at the Rhensoter River. Doyle is believed to have left South Africa in late 1900 and returned in 1902 explaining the lack of King's South Africa medal and his entitlement to the South Africa 1902 clasp.

Advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 11 February 1902 he was appointed to command 2nd Battalion during the closing stages of the war. The year after the fighting ceased he led them to India where they served for several years with Doyle being promoted Brevet Colonel on 11 February 1905. The next year he laid down command and took half pay from 11 February 1906, being appointed Colonel Commanding the South Wales Border Volunteer Infantry Brigade on 1 June 1906.

Doyle officially retired on 8 May 1909 however this was not to last as he returned to an official position on the outbreak of the Great War. Appointed to command the Regiment Depot at Shrewsbury, in this role he contributed to the Battalion history in the chapter titled The Depot, which notes a number of issues with supply of even the most basic items like attestation papers in the earliest days of the war. His struggles encapsulate the spirit of the volunteers and constant struggle with bureaucracy faced by the recruiters:

'The supply of attestation papers was soon exhausted. The War Office was written to, and telegraphed to, and replied that there were no supplies available, and that they were to be written out - not very helpful. A copy was sent down to a local printer, who printed 2,000 copies in about sixteen hours at a very moderate rate. The Government contractor, a week later, wrote that unheard-of penalties could be inflicted for this breach of regulations, but no notice was taken. War Office inspectors were exceedingly complimentary at the way this difficulty had been met.'

Notably Doyle's MIC notes no entitlement to any medals for his service in the Great War, only a silver war badge. He retired finally after that, taking a well earned rest and writing a book entitled '100 years of Conflict, being a Record of 6 Generals of the Doyle Family'. He inherited the baronetcy on 21 February 1933 upon the death of his brother, holding it until his own death at Boscombe, Hampshire on 19 February 1948.

Doyle's obituary in the Regimental Journal portrays him as an interesting and lively figure, stating:

'It is neither fair to his memory to appraise Author Doyle's military qualifications by modern standards, nor easy for one who was twenty years his junior to assess his merits on sincerity. For he joined the original 85th King's Light Infantry in 1878, in the latter half of the Victorian era, when it was not fashionable to betray any undue keenness or enthusiasm for the art military; and he would have been the first to disclaim with a quiet smile any implication that as a soldier he was either distinguished or ambitious. He was, in fact, too kindly, too easy going, to be either, though he succeeded in commanding the 2nd K.S.L.I., a fine battalion. During four years in India, under the exacting eye of the then Commander-in-Chief, Lord Kitchener, with whom, he was on terms of easy friendship. But it is both a pleasure and a privilege to depict him as the man whom all loved for his unfailing charm, kindliness and perfect courtesy, and as what he invariable was at all times, namely, the perfect gentleman. I feel that, had he taken the trouble to qualify, he would have made a consummate diplomat: for he was always perfectly at east in any sort of society from that of Royalty downwards, and he remained completely serene and unruffled under all circumstances of exciting, strain or danger. It may seem strange that he made no effort to excel in any form of sport but what would no doubt have been regarded as a handicap to the ordinary officer was never mentioned in disparagement of Doyle. In short, he was tacitly accepted by all at his face value, to which athletic prowess could make no contribution namely that of an aristocrat of the "Old School".'

He was survived by his son, Captain John Francis Hastings Doyle, the last Baronet of Buscombe.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (1803 Pte. H. Greaves, 2nd Shropshire Lt. Infy.);
KSA (2) (1803 Pte. H. Greaves. Shrops: L.I.)

Henry Greaves was born at Birmingham in 1867 and signed with his mark upon joining the Shropshire Light Infantry in October 1885. He served with the unit in Hong Kong from December 1891 until October 1893 and then in South Africa during the Boer War from March 1900 to 26 August 1902. Greaves was severely wounded at Lilliefontein on 6 November 1900 - in that shared action with the Canadian Cavalry, two Victoria Crosses were awarded.

Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS 1895 (1) Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (2d Lieut. P. C. Grover 1st Bn Shorpshire [SIC] Lt Infy.), the regiment officially corrected;
QSA (2) Driefontein, Cape Colony (Lieut. P. C. Grover. 2/Shrops L.I.)

Provenance: Christie's, November 1984.

MID London Gazette 8 February 1901.

Perceval Charles Grover was born at Stoke House, Surrey on 16 March 1875, the son of Elizabeth and Colonel George Grover, Royal Engineers. Educated first at Rugby he later entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a Gentleman Cadet. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in February 1895 he joined the 1st Battalion in India.

There Grover served under Sir William Lockhart as part of the Malakand Field Force, undertaking operations against the Mahmuds and with the Utman Khel Column in Bajour. Later joining the Buner Field Force, they saw action at the taking of the Tanga Pass. Grover appears to have performed well during these actions, being advanced Lieutenant on 5 March 1899.

Upon the outbreak of the Anglo- Boer War he volunteered for the Burma Mounted Infantry. Despite its name this unit was not comprised of Burmese troops but rather was made up of British troops stationed in India and Burma who volunteered for wartime service in South Africa.

Arriving in South Africa Grover joined a column under General Broadwood which was the victim of a brilliant ambush by De Wet's commando on 31 March 1900 at Sanna's Post. The account of Lieutenant W. J. Ainsworth, who commanded the D.L.I. company of the Burma Mounted Infantry gives a good account of the action from Grover, as quoted in the Journal of the Light Infantry in 1975, stating:

'There was a certain amount of confusion at first. One battery was captured, the other got away and came into action. Wem who were just behind, were ordered to dismount and double up to where the guns were. We did this under a heavy fire; four of us and some twenty men reaching the place. The guns were just to the front. We stayed there for some time. The guns then stopped firing owning to losing so many men.

It was at this time that Grover came up to me, and, to use his own words, said:- "There's a VC job here, they want to get the guns in and have not enough horses."

He went back to where the horses of the battery were, about 100 yards behind. We, after a short interval, followed. I found it was true about the guns being in such straits, and we all assisted in hand dragging them in.'

In the context of the action itself The Times History of the War in South Africa 1900 refers, stating:

'Then Hornby and Humphreys set themselves to bring back the guns. Eight gunners responded to their call, and ran back two pieces forty yards. Here these brave men lay down exhausted. Hornby went to the mounted infantry escort and called for volunteers. Lieutenants Stirling, Way, Ainsworth, Grover and Ashburner of the Burma M.I., Captain Maxwell of Roberts's Horse, and about four or five men at once responded. These men gallantry faced the withering fire, and, with two gunners, ran back the first two guns to the shelter of the railway embankment; three yet remained and all the limbers. As the men came out towards them the storm of bullets was so violent that they pressed their helmets down on their heads and bent forward as if they were meeting a heavy wind; the horses that were brought out fared even worse than the men, for team after team was shot down before it could bring away its burden. Yet through it all the men who did the work showed the coolness of a parade.'

Grover was seriously wounded whilst attempting to bring off the guns, dying just twenty minutes later - of the eleven men who went forward to assist the gunners he was the only one killed. All of these men were 'mentioned' for their bravery, with Lieutenant Maxwell of Robert's Horse earning the Victoria Cross. Grover is commemorated upon the King's Shropshire Light Infantry Memorial at St. Chad's, Shrewsbury and on a memorial plaque at Rugby School.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (5463 Pte. G. Newell, 2: Shrops: Lt. Inft.), initial officially corrected

G. Newell was killed in action on 16 July 1900 at Rietvlei, he is commemorated upon the King's Shropshire Light Infantry Memorial at St. Chad's, Shrewsbury. On 10 July 1900, Smith-Dorrien was ordered to take the Shropshire Light Infantry and the 1st Gordons to collect supplies in the Krugersdorp district. The next day, however, he found himself opposed by a very strong force of the enemy and it was with great difficulty that he could save his guns, which had been too far pushed forward. On 16 July the Shropshire Light Infantry formed part of the garrison of sundry posts, which were very heavily attacked, but the attacks were driven off. During these attacks Newell was killed, and one officer and five men were wounded.