THE ORDER OF THE MEDJIDIE, CRIMEAN WAR TRIO TO CAPTAIN (LATER MAJOR) C. HEYCOCK, 89TH FOOT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS), WHO ALSO SAW SERVICE DURING THE CLOSING STAGES OF THE INDIAN MUTINY (NO MEDALS AWARDED FOR THAT CAMPAIGN). Three: Crimea Medal 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Hunt & Roskell style naming in serifed upper and lower case letters: CAPTn. C. HAYCOCK (79) REGt.); Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class, in silver, gold and enamel (unnamed, as issued); Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, British issue (unnamed, as issued). Scattered surface contact marks and rim nicks to Crimea Medal, partially obscuring naming details (as indicated, the number "79" not clear), Order of the Medjidie with contemporary strengthening repair to suspension and lacking one star from inter-arm ‘star and crescent’ device, Turkish Crimea pierced with original jump ring and ring suspension, mounted as worn from a silver buckle and claw style brooch suspender by Hunt & Roskell, generally Good Very Fine.
Group accompanied by biographical details, copied extracts from Rowland Brinckman's "Historical Record of the Eighty-Ninth", and extract Crimea Medal roll.
Charles Heycock (1827-1886), born on 11 October 1827 in East Norton, Leicestershire, was first commissioned into the 89th Regiment as an Ensign (by purchase) on 31 March 1848, and was promoted Lieutenant (by purchase) on 5 December 1851. Promoted Captain on 30 December 1854, he served in the Crimean War, being present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol from 5 January 1855 and the attacks of 18 June and 8 September 1855 (First and final attacks on the Redan). For his services in the Crimea Heycock was awarded Queen’s medal and clasp, the Turkish medal and the Turkish Order of Medjidie 5th Class.
Heycock is mentioned in a number of cases in Brinckman's history of the 89th in particular for his services during the Indian Mutiny, which records that, on one occasion Heycock commanded a detachment of several hundred men, artillery, infantry and cavalry, in the attack on the strongly fortified village of Mondetti, 22nd August 1858 and that he subsequently commanded one hundred men from the 89th, along with one hundred men from the Bombay Native Infantry in confronting a force of one thousand enemy cavalry.
No medals granted to the 89th Foot for the Indian Mutiny.
Heycock was promoted Major on 29 May 1869 and died in Leicestershire on 8 March 1886.
