Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Order of St. John group of three awarded to Sergeant Samuel Kingston, St John Ambulance Brigade, who served as an Orderly aboard the American hospital ship Maine during the Boxer rebellion

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, silver and enamels; China 1900, 1 clasp, Taku Forts, copy clasp and not entitled (117 Orderly S. Kingston. St John Amb: Bde:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, both copy clasps and not entitled (117 Ordly: S. Kingston, St John Amb: Bde:); together with S.S. Maine American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund 1899, silver medallion, the last rare in silver, edge bruising, otherwise very fine and better (4) £800-£1,200

Samuel Kingston is confirmed on the roll of ‘British Members of the Staff of the American Ladies Hospital Ship Maine during the time that the ship was attached to the China Expeditionary Force,’ one of just 14 members of the S.J.A.B., two Sergeants and 12 Privates, all of whom are shown in the rank of Orderly. He is not shown on the Q.S.A. roll as serving on the Maine and was not entitled to any clasps to either medal.

The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck the above medallion to help with their fund raising.