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Picture courtesy of Spink

Hong Kong Plague 1894 (Private G. Morgan, S.L.I.), replacement straight-bar suspension

Spink say there are two men of the name G. Morgan who earned the 1894 Plague Medal.

No. 2223, George Morgan, who was born at Worcester and who enlisted in March 1887. He served with the Shropshire Light Infantry at Hong Kong from May 1893 and formed part of the 'Whitewash Brigade'. They were called to action after the deadly outbreak of bubonic plague at the Colony. Whilst there, Morgan was several times admitted to the Medical Officer on account of gonorrhoea and issues associated with those parts. He was discharged in March 1899.

No. 2787, Griffith Morgan, who was born at Oswestry and who enlisted in April 1888. He served with the Shropshire Light Infantry at Hong Kong in December 1891 and formed part of the 'Whitewash Brigade'. They were called to action after the deadly outbreak of bubonic plague at the Colony. He served with the unit during the Boer War in South Africa from November 1899-September 1900 (Queen's Medal & 2 clasps) and was discharged in April 1901.

The Morgan HKP medal sold for £1,100;
$1,486US; $2,027CA; €1,264 in today’s Spink auction.

Spink suggest this man was entitled to the Hong Kong Plague Medal.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (2759 Pte. J. Wynn, 2nd Shropshire Lt. Infy.)

John Wynn was born at Melverley, Shropshire in 1870 and attested at Shrewsbury on 2 March 1888. He served with the 1st Battalion in Malta and then Egypt between 1888-1891 before being posted to Hong Kong where he served during the Hong Kong plague, through which the Battalion served as the 'Whitewash Brigade'.

Leaving in December 1894 the Battalion spent a year in India before Wynn was posted back to Britain to join the Army Reserve. Mobilised for service in South Africa he served there from 7 November 1899 seeing action at Paardeberg where the Shropshire Light Infantry played a key role. Returning to Britain on 28 January 1901 he was demobilised two months later

Spink also suggest this man was entitled to the Hong Kong Plague Medal.


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (3998 Serjt. J. Spears. Shrops :L.I.);
Army LS&GC GV (3998 Sjt: J. Spears. Shrops: L.I.)

John Spears was born at Hulme, Lancashire in 1873 and enlisted at Bury on 21 January 1893 with the 2nd Battalion. Posted to join the first Battalion in Hong Kong on 15 December 1893 he was there during the plague when the Battalion acted as the 'Whitewash Brigade', helping to combat the effects of the epidemic.

They were later posted to India on 22 December 1894 where Spears was advanced Sergeant on 1 April 1899. Transferred back to 2nd Battalion in South Africa on 14 February 1902 he served with them in the Transvaal during the final months of the Anglo-Boer War. Returning to Britain on 15 January 1904 his final tour of duty was in India from 2 October 1907.

Joining the Army Reserve Spears was discharged in 1911, earning his LS&GC in October of that year.

He returned to service during the Great War on 24 September 1914 with the Manchester Regiment and saw Home service until 30 November 1917. For this service he is entitled to a Silver War Badge only.