Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Hong Kong Plague Medal in gold awarded to Mr J. R. Crook, Executive Engineer in charge of Water and Drainage, Public Works Department, Hong Kong, and Sanitary Surveyor in Charge of Disinfecting Operations

Hong Kong Plague 1894, gold issue (J. R. Crook), unmounted, in original Wyon, London red leather case of issue, extremely fine £4000-5000

Ex Sotheby’s 27 June 1973, lot 108; Spink December 1977.

Mr John Rowland Crook (1866-1940) was appointed Draughtsman to the Public Works Department, Hong Kong, in February 1893 and was transferred to the Water Authority in November the same year. At the time of emergency he was Executive Engineer in charge of Water and Drainage, Public Works Department, Hong Kong, and was employed as Sanitary Surveyor in charge of Disinfecting Operations.

A virulent epidemic of Bubonic Plague broke out in Hong Kong in early May 1894. Recognizing the danger, the Governor, Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., gathered all the resources available to him, both military and civil, to combat the threat. Special bye-laws were quickly passed and implemented. The task of finding, isolating, disinfecting and cleansing infected households was directed by Mr F. H. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police and supervised by Mr J. H. Crook the Sanitary Surveyor. To supplement the local authorities and native labour, Officers and men of the Shropshire Light Infantry and Royal Engineers were drawn in to help with the cleansing operations. The population in infected areas were removed and infected houses were rigorously cleansed - floors disinfected, walls, woodwork and furniture thoroughly lime-washed, and bedding, old clothing, old woodwork and general rubbish burnt. Elsewhere, doctors, nurses and ancillary staff worked heroically amongst the sick and dying. Yet by the time the emergency regulations were revoked in September 1894, some 2,562 people had died of the plague. In the aftermath of the epidemic, it was resolved by the Government of Hong Kong to issue medals both in gold and in silver to those who gave their services to combat the dangerous disease.

Mentioned several times in the Hong Kong Daily Press of the time; Crook received his fullest recognition for the services he rendered in the Report of the Plague Recognition Committee of 3 December 1894 (Colonial Office Despatch 313, of 7 January 1895):

‘The last name which we have been requested to submit to Your Excellency is that of Mr J. R. Crook, Sanitary Surveyor, who from the very outbreak of the plague organized and had charge of the very necessary and responsible work of disinfecting and cleansing all the houses in which plaque had appeared. This work, which we have every reason to believe was most satisfactorily performed, was undertaken in addition to Mr Cook’s ordinary duties and entailed not only exposure to the danger of contagion but also long hours of extra labour. The zeal and energy which he showed are worthy of ample recognition, wherefore the committee, besides conveying to him to the thanks of the Community with a gold medal, now ask that the name of this young man and deserving officer may be brought to the notice of the Secretary of State’. Mr Crook was further honoured by the Hong Kong Government with the presentation of a silver inkstand, inscribed, ‘Presented by the Hong Kong Government with the approval of H.M. Government, to J. R. Crook, Sanitary Surveyor, in recognition of services rendered during the epidemic of bubonic plague in 1894’.

Crook’s gold medal is illustrated in The Whitewash Brigade, The Hong Kong Plague 1894, by J. J. Platt, M. E. Jones and A. K. Platt.

Sold with a copy of the Report of Messrs. F. H. May and J. R. Crook on the Work carried out by them in connection with the Plaque, Hong Kong, 28 September 1894. Included with the report were ‘Directions for Officers on House-to-House Visitation Duty’ which provided useful anti-contagion tips: ‘1. Keep separate clothes for working in, which should be changed on returning off duty and kept hung up in the air and sun when not in use; 2. On returning off duty wash the hands in water and Jeyes’ fluid (1 in 20), and if possible take a bath of the same solution; 3. Also rinse the mouth out with Condy’s fluid and water (one teaspoonful to one quart of water); 4. Saturate the handkerchief with Eucalyptus oil when going on duty and apply it frequently to the nose if in an infected house; 5. Smoke’. Further to this, in later life, when asked how he survived the plague, Crook is said to have replied, ‘I said my prayers night and morning and ate three hearty meals a day’.