WANGANUI IN THE NAVY ON D-DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 241, 9 October 1944, Page 4

WANGANUI IN THE NAVY ON D-DAY

QUARTERMASTER C. TINNEY

A great deal of adventure has been crammed into the life of Chief Quartermaster Clem Tinney, formerly of Gonville, Wanganui, in the last five years, since lie joined the Royal NewZealand Navy. Right from his earliest years he had one ambition, and that was to join the Navy. He joined when under 16 years of age, and has had five birthdays in it since the war began in September, 1939. He has seen action in the Pacific, but the highlight of his career was aboard a minesweeper, on which, as chief quartermaster, he took part in the historic invasion of France last June. In a letter' to his parents Mr. and Mrs. P. ’ H. Tinney, Tawa Street, Gonville, he relates that the minesweepers were the vanguard of the huge armada which led the invasion forces.

To use his own words, it was “no picnic,’’ but the writer stated that he would not have missed the adventure for anything. It was an amazing sight to see the thousands of ships afloat, with human cargoes keyed up for the liberation of France and Allied countries.

During duty periods at sea in summer weather, Quartermaster Tinney wrote, it was sometimes hard to realise that the war was so near at hand. Particularly was this so when sailing along the English coastline in brilliant sunshine and a flat calm sea. About the time when the flying bomb menace was at its height, ’ he said they flew high overhead and created a heavy explosion when they landed.

Referring to the personnel in his mess, Quartermaster Tinney said they included a seaman from Manchester, an Irishman, Welshman. Scotsman and three Londoners. Whenever an argument arose they all talked at once in different dialects, which, said the writer, wa.s as good as a pantomime.

The only New Zealander on his ship, Quartermaster Tinney said he was treated with a fine spirit of comradeship.