Lieutenant-Colonel F S Tidy CB


Francis Skelly Tidy entered the army in 1792 as a volunteer in the 43rd regiment he was dispatched the following year to the West Indies. In 1794, he was present at the siege of Fort Bourbon, in the Isle of Martinique and at the capture of Guadeloupe. He was captured at Barville and confined for fifteen months on board a hulk, where he suffered the cruelties of Victor Hughes (1762-1826), governor of Guadeloupe, he was then sent to France. Afterwards, obtaining permission to go to England on his parole, he was immediately appointed Adjutant of the 43rd and again embarked for the West Indies. In 1802, after a period at home in England, he joined the 1st Royal Regiment at Gibraltar and in May 1803 embarked a third time for the West Indies. He assisted in the attack on St. Lucia and after its capture was appointed Secretary to the Colony. Resigning that situation, he was sent with a detachment of the Royals to Dominica and was appointed Brigade-Major; then ADC to Sir W Myers and subsequently to Sir C. Beckwith. In 1807 he became Major of the 8th West India regiment and in September of that year was transferred to the 14th foot.

In 1808 he served as Assistant Adjutant general in the expedition to Spain, under Sir David Baird. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the staff, and served for the whole of the northern campaign against Marshal Soult. He fought at the battle on the heights above Grijo, in Portugal, 11 May 1809 and also at the passage of the Douro immediately after. In 1809 he served in the Walcheren expedition. On the 4th June 1813 he received the brevet of Lieut.-Colonel, and joined the 2nd battalion of the 14th Foot at Malta, where he remained during the plague. In 1814 he served at Genoa, where he was recalled to take the command of the 3rd battalion about to embark for North America, which was rendered unnecessary by the conclusion of peace with the United States.

Lieut-Col Tidy afterwards served at Waterloo with the 3rd Battalion, which then contained 300 men under 20 years of age, but who, as declared in division orders, "on this their first trial displayed a steadiness and gallantry becoming veteran troops." His leadership was central to the steadiness of the young boys under his command. Colonel Tidy was also present at the storming of Cambray on 24 June 1815 and for these services he was nominated a Companion of the Bath. He commanded the 24th Foot when they were in Canada in 1833. He died in Kingston, Upper Canada on 9 Oct 1835.

Frederick Buck was one of the most prolific and successful miniaturists of the early 19th century. Born in Cork, he established a thriving business in his home town, dedicating himself to soldiers heading off to fight in the Peninsular War. His reputation as an artist for officers may have persuaded Colonel Tidy to commission this miniature, where he proudly shows his Waterloo medal. Wearing the uniform of a field officer of the 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot, Tidy must have passed through Cork during the years 1807-15 (the date of this style of uniform) with Buck or another artist possibly adding his hard-earned Waterloo medal at a later date.


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by Stephen Luscombe