History

The Hong Kong Plague Medal was administered by the Hong Kong government in 1894 to commemorate nurses, civil servants, police, and British army and naval personnel who assisted the crown colony during the Bubonic Plaque Epidemic of 1894. Officers and senior civilians were awarded with Gold Medals while all other recipients were awarded with Silver Medals. While no complete roll of medal recipients is known to exist, estimates place the total number of Gold Medals issued at approximately 180, and the total number of Silver Medals issued between 600 and 800, making the Hong Kong Plague Medal rare.

It is also estimated that between 40 and 50 Gold Medals, and approximately 350 Silver Medals, were conferred to each volunteer of the 1st Battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in recognition of the aid provided to Hong Kong in the containment and extinguishment of the disease. For their services, which included the extremely dangerous and repugnant task of cleaning and disinfecting the affected areas, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry became known as the “Whitewash Brigade”.

Since the Hong Kong Plague Medal was not officially instituted by British authority, British military personnel were prohibited from wearing the Medal on their uniform. As a result, many Medals are thought to be lost or altered.

The Gold Medal features an obverse inscription of the Chinese characters for “Hong Kong” and is extremely rare.