Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Egypt (T. Hickley, 54th Foot) minor solder repair to righthand side of clasp facing, nearly very fine £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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J. Darwent Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, April 2004.

Thomas Hickey/Hickley was born in Queens County, Ireland, and volunteered for the 1st Battalion 54th Foot from the Louth Militia on 1 February 1799. He transferred to the 2nd Battalion on 24 June 1800, served in Egypt until March 1802 and transferred back to the 1st Battalion in June 1802.

After Nelson’s defeat of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile, the British Army was landed to push the French out of Egypt. The landing in Aboukir Bay was opposed, and is an early example of the 54th Foot taking part in an amphibious landing against an enemy held coastline. General Abercrombie then led the army up the sand spit towards Alexandria. The French veterans of Napoleon’s Italian campaign were not easy to overcome, but after a week of hard fighting the French retreated and the British moved forward to Alexandria itself. The 54th Foot were given the task of taking Fort Marabout as its objective. It was the key to the city’s defences as it dominated the left flank of the attack and was able to keep the Royal Navy gun boats at bay. The 54th Foot dragged the guns of the Royal Artillery across the sand and rock, which was extremely hot work under the blistering sun into a position to support and attack. The guns were moved under the cover of musket fire, and the efforts of the regimental sharp shooters. So effective was their combined fire that after a time the commandant of the fort surrendered when he saw the columns of the 54th Foot forming up to attack.

With the fort taken the main British attack took place leading to an overwhelming victory. As a reward the 54th Foot were allowed to where the Sphinx as their cap badge, and one of the captured French cannon as a regimental trophy. In 1840 the War Office took back the cannon and moved it to Woolwich, in return the 54th Foot were granted permission to wear the inscription “Marabout” under the badge of the Sphinx, a unique honour amongst the British Army.

Hickey served in Gibraltar and at home until 4 November 1807, when he transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion and served in Ireland until 26 July 1809. On the latter date he was discharged due to a pulmonic complaint, blindness of the right eye and impaired left vision. In later life he was employed as a calico printer, and he died aged 83 at Preston, Lancashire in March 1865.

43 medals issued to the 54th Foot, all with clasp for ‘Egypt.’

Sold with copied research.