An exceptional Hong Kong Plague and long service group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 J. R. Makin, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was decorated by the Royal Humane Society for his gallant deeds in the Colony in 1894

Hong Kong Plague 1894, silver issue (John R. Makin), officially impressed in the usual style; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (6856 L. Cpl., R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6856 Cpl., R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (60049 Sjt., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (60049 W.O. Cl. 2, R.A.M.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (6856 Corpl., R.A.M.C.); Royal Humane Society’s Medal for Lifesaving, bronze, small (Pte., Medical S. Corps, 13th Sept. 1894), surname virtually obliterated by bruising, complete with riband buckle, together with related Corps of Commissionaires L.S., in silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘J. R. Makin’, contact marks, edge bruising and heavily polished, fine and better (8) £2000-2500

John Rickard Makin was seconded for services in the Glassworks Hospital, Hong Kong in June 1894, together with one other Army Medical Service orderly - see Dr. Lowson’s report on “The Epidemic of Bubonic Plague in Hong Kong 1894” which appeared in The Hong Kong Government Gazette on 13 April 1895 (The Whitewash Brigade refers and states ‘possible recipient of a silver medal’).

Makin, and Private F. Miller, also of the Medical Service Corps, were awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for the following incident:

‘At great personal risk, rescued Private J.Kynaston, 1st Battalion,Shropshire Light Infantry, from drowning at Hong Kong, on the 13 September 1894’ (Case 27479 refers).

Makin, who was discharged as a Warrant Officer in October 1918, was also awarded the Silver War Badge.