Hong Kong Plague 1894, silver issue (Private G. Biggs, S.L.I.) good very fine £1,800-£2,200

George Biggs was born in the Parish of Llangarren, near Ross, Herefordshire, in 1872. He joined the Shropshire Light Infantry at Shrewsbury on 16 July 1890, aged 18 years 11 months, a labourer by trade. His papers show that he trained as a stretcher bearer in May 1892 whilst the regiment was stationed in Hong Kong, his new qualification no doubt being put to good use during the plague of 1894, for which Biggs received the medal. He served in the Boer War from November 1899 until August 1902, after which he was discharged having earned a Queen’s medal with 3 clasps and a King’s medal with 2 clasps. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.