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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 436

A rare Hong Kong Royal Naval Dockyard Police Long Service group of five awarded to Constable (Indian) S. Khan, Hong Kong Royal Naval Dockyard Police

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Hong Kong Royal Naval Dockyard Police Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., bronze (Serwar Khan, Const. No. 136), engraved naming, good very fine (5)

Long Service Medal as per Yard Letter No. 419, 31 July 1957.

Serwar Khan would surely have been interned during the Second World War. The Hong Kong Royal Naval Dockyard Police were staffed by European Officers and Senior NCO's, but the majority of the Staff comprised Muslims, termed the 'Indian Contingent'. They primarily worked at Tamar. In 1941 after the outbreak of hostilities, the unit served alongside the Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps. It appears at least 9 of his comrades were killed up until the Fall of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941. Of the remainder who were interned, the Europeans were held captive in Hong Kong and Japan, whilst the Indian Contingent were taken to Canton and elsewhere in Japanese occupied territories, being subjected to woeful hardships. Some were also pressured to join the sponsored Indian Nationalist Army.

Following a request from the Contingent in 1922, the Long Service Medal was instituted after further requests by the Europeans the following year. The Royal Mint state 281 Medals were struck, but it appears some 150 or so were ever issued; sold together with copied research and an image of a member of the Contingent on Stonecutter Island in the 1970's.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£480