In 1898 Great Britain secured a 99-year lease for Hong Kong, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island after a number of short wars against the Chinese. The lease came to an end in 1997 and Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control. Although civil unrest was forecast, the transition happened peacefully.
Lieutenant Colonel John Gosnell served twice in Hong Kong, firstly during the late 80s and again as the colony was being prepared for hand-over to the Chinese. Sadly, he died in service in 1996, aged just 43.
The Hong Kong Military Service Corps was a paramilitary organisation formed in 1962 for the defence of the Crown Colony. It recruited locally.
They minted the commemorative Hong Kong Military Service Corps Medal displayed here, the rear of which is inscribed ‘To commemorate Disbandment’ …. ‘31 March 1997’. This one belonged to John Gosnell.