David Latimer Tinling-Widdrington was a “Major of Brigade” when this journal commences. He later became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd Battalion of the 17th Regiment and, in 1812, became a Major-General and was appointed to the staff at Gibraltar. The journal describes the army career of Tinling-Widdrington’s son, Ggeorge Widdrington, who died in 1813 at the Battle of Vittoria. This was the decisive battle of the Peninsular War; it was the last major battle against Napoleon's forces in Spain and opened the way for the British forces under Lord Wellington to invade France.
The journal primarily recounts the army career of David Latimer Tinling-Widdrington’s son, George Widdrington, from 1796 until his death in 1813 at the Battle of Vittoria, the decisive battle of the Peninsular War. The journal contains numerous descriptions of battles, many taken from copies of letters sent by George to his family. Also included are copies of other letters, including several by Joseph Cook, a relative by marriage. The journal contains a great deal of genealogical information concerning the Widdrington name, and Army lists (British, Portuguese, and French armies).
This material is open for research.
Permission to publish from the David Latimer Tinling-Widdrington journal, 1796-1813 must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
Peninsular War letters, 1808-1813, MS 155, http://www.rice.edu/fondren/woodson/mss/ms155.html
David Latimer Tinling-Widdrington journal, 1796-1813>, MS 139, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
Purchased from Walford (dealer), 1960.