Hong Kong Plague medal 1894, circular silver, ribbon missing, awarded to Private A. Palmer of Shropshire Light Infantry, for services during Hong Kong Plague of 1894, designed by A. Wyon, probably made in England(?), 1894

Bubonic plague swept through Hong Kong from May to September 1894, claiming 2,500 lives. The Hong Kong authorities awarded this medal to nurses, civil servants, police, and British army and naval personnel who helped the crown colony during the epidemic. The medal shows a Chinese man lying on a bed being tended to by a female nurse while a man holds off the winged figure of Death. The Chinese characters on the left hand side spell out the name of the colony.

This medal (now missing a ribbon) was awarded to Private A Palmer of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry who served in Hong Kong during the epidemic. Overall 400 men and women received this medal. However, British army personnel were not authorised to wear them on their uniforms.