Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The Indian campaign pair to Colonel W. J. Hicks, 22nd Bengal N.I., who served with the First Relief Force at Lucknow and afterwards with Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry, and later commanded the 44th Assam N.I. in the Bhootan and Looshai Expeditions

(a) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (Capt. W. J. Hicks, 22nd N.I. Supt. of Bazaar)

(b) India General Service 1854-94, 2 clasps, Bhootan, Looshai (Lt. Col. W. J. Hicks, 44th Regt. N.I.) good very fine
£2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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William John Hicks, the son of Lieutenant-General George Hicks, Bengal Army, was born on 30 June 1822, and was baptised at Agra on 21 July 1823. He was nominated for the Bengal Infantry ‘when abroad’ at the recommendation of Sir David Scott, Bart. Commissioned Ensign on 1 September 1838, he reported to the Town Major at Fort William on 21 December of that year, and in January 1839 was directed to do duty with the 8th N.I. at Bareilly, prior to joining the 22nd N.I. at Nusserabad. He was promoted Lieutenant on 27 June 1842, and in 1846 took charge of the recruit depot at Futtehghur. He served throughout the Punjab campaign, including the affair of Ramnuggur, passage of the Chenab, and pursuit of the Sikhs and Affghans (Medal). He became Captain on 29 July 1853 and appears to have returned to Fort William from furlough on 23 April 1857.

His regiment mutinied at Faizabad on 7 June 1857, whereupon he was directed to do duty with the 1st Madras Fusiliers in Sir James Outram’s Oude Field Force, ‘with a view to being appointed to the charge of the Bazaar’from 15 December 1857. On 16 September, Hicks was appointed Baggage Master to the Oude F.F., and reached Lucknow with First Relief Force nine days later.

In addition to his other services Hicks is recorded in Hart’s Army List as having served ‘in the Volunteer Cavalry [under Capt. Barrow] with Havelock’s Column from its first taking the field in July 1857, including the actions of Aoung, Pandoo Nuddee, Cawnpore, Oonao, Buseerutgunge, Mungarwar, and Alumbagh, relief of the Garrison of Lucknow, subsequent defence of the Alumbagh, and repulse of the various attacks thereon.’ Hicks also had charge of the State prisoners until the final capture of Lucknow, and, in June 1858 he was appointed Commandant of the Police Battalion in the district of Etawah (cƒ. A. O. Hume, B.C.S., Lot 83).

Hicks became Major in June 1866, and Lieutenant-Colonel three months later. He served in the Bhootan expedition in 1865-66, in command of the 44th Bengal N.I. until the surrender of the guns at Dewangiri, and was appointed Colonel Commandant of that corps in 1868. Promoted to full Colonel on 1 September 1869, Hicks commanded his regiment in the Looshai Expedition of 1871-72. Colonel Hicks retired in February 1873 and died in December of that year.

Refs: Hodson Index (NAM); IOL L/MIL/10/32; IOL L/MIL/10/66; IOL L/MIL/10/41; IOL L/MIL/10/64.