The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Brevet Major George H. J. Heigham, 23rd Foot, twice mentioned in despatches, he later died of smallpox in India

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Captn. G H I Heigham, 1st Bn. 23rd R.W. Fusrs.) nearly extremely fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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George Henry John Heigham was born at Bury St Edmunds on 16 May 1831, eldest son of George Thomas Heigham, of Houghton Hall, Cavendish, Suffolk, J.P., Captain 4th Dragoon Guards, by his wife Mary Anne Elizabeth, only daughter of the Rev. Henry Hasted, Rector of Horningsheath, Suffolk. He purchased his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 45th Foot on 22 June 1847, and exchanged into the 76th Foot on 6 August 1847, becoming Lieutenant on 10 February 1854. He exchanged to the 23rd Foot as Captain, by purchase, on 6 January 1855.

He joined his regiment at Cawnpore on 12 December 1857 and was present with it until the fall of Lucknow in March 1858, and at the minor affairs which took place during Lord Clyde’s winter campaign in Oudh in 1858-59, at the battles of Jubrowlie, Poorwah, Simree, Beerah and Doondiakiera with the left wing of the 23rd Fusiliers as Captain Commanding under Major Bulwer. In his report, sent from his camp at Goorsainunge, Major Bulwer was highly complimentary of Captain Heigham who commanded the two companies of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the operations against the rebels at Selimpore, and Colonel Eveleigh in his report in the taking of the Simree Fort mentioned that the advance of the Fusiliers under Captain Heigham ‘excited my warmest approbation’. He was awarded the brevet rank of Major on 26 April 1859, and died of malignant smallpox at Lucknow on 6 May 1861. His widow, Annabella, second daughter of Joseph Everett, of Greenhill, Warminster, Wiltshire, died on 5 February 1908. Sold with copied research.