Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Defence of Gibraltar 1779-83, General Picton’s Medal, silver, the edge engraved in contemporary upright serif capitals (To Ensign D. Latimer Tinling, 12th Regt. From M. General Picton, Colonel 12th Regt. Foot. 1783) fitted with large ring for suspension and full length red silk neck cravat, contained in an old fitted case with hinged lid for display, nearly extremely fine and a very rare attributable example £2000-2500

Provenance: Recorded by George Tancred in his Historical Record of Medals and Honorary Distinctions, 1891, ‘The late Mr. Kermack Ford, of Southsea, mentions one of these medals as having round the edge this inscription...’ [as above].

The following obituary was published in the Gentleman’s Magazine in 1839:

‘July 3. At the residence of his son, the Rev. Sidney H. Widdrington, Manor-House, Bexley, Lieut.General Sir David Latimer Tinling Widdrington, K.C.H.

This officer, whose parental name was Tinling, went to Gibraltar in 1777, and during the memorable siege, until the end of 1783, was actively employed as draftsman, engineer, and Ensign in the 12th foot, his commission in which was given him by Gen. Picton, on the 11th April 1782. On the 4th Oct. 1786 he succeeded to a Lieutenancy by purchase; and in 1790 and 1791, was employed with his regiment on board Lord Howe’s fleet, as marines. On the breaking out of the war with France, he was employed to raise an independent company in Ireland, which in 1793 was turned over to the 54th regiment, and he exchanged by purchase to the 17th, which in 1794 sailed from Southampton for the West Indies; but having been driven back by foul weather, was encamped at Cork until the following year, during which interval Capt. Tinling officiated as Commissary-general. In May 1796 he arrived at St. Domingo, having been appointed a Brigade Major, but he was driven home by disease, and narrowly escaped with his life.

On the 18th Jan. 1797 he succeeded to a Majority in the regiment; and in Aug. 1799 was appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the 2nd battalion, then raised from volunteers from the militia. He was actively employed in Holland during the Duke of York’s campaigns; and from 1800 to the end of the war in 1802 served with his regiment in the Mediterranean. He was, on returning home, immediately appointed an Inspecting Field-Officer on the recruiting service.

In March 1809 he had the King’s authority to assume the name of Widdrington, “out of respect to the memory of his wife’s uncles, John and Nathaniel Widdrington, representatives of the Hanxley branch of that ancient family.”

He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1809, to that of Major-General in 1812, and to that of Lieut.-General in 1825. As Major-General, he resided for some years on the staff at Gibraltar. His eldest son, Major George John W. T. Widdrington, was slain at the battle of Vitttoria.’

It is recorded in the regimental history of the 12th Foot that these handsome medals were struck to the order of General Picton, who was Colonel of that regiment, for presentation to the officer’s who served with him at Gibraltar. Several examples have been noted to the 12th Foot, including one to Captain John Spilsbury, which was sold in the Matthew Taylor Collection in 1983, and another in possession of the Suffolk Regiment. Sold with extensive research including a coloured photograph of a portrait of the recipient wearing the insignia of K.C.H.