John Tunnicliff
Aug 27, 2013 10:23:51 GMT
Post by shred on Aug 27, 2013 10:23:51 GMT
SALFORD TELEGRAPHIST AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
At a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace the King decorated Telegraphist John Tunnicliff of the Royal Navy with the Distinguished Service Medal.
The award was made for his gallantry aboard the light cruiser, Orion, during the evacuation of the British Forces from Crete. During these operations HMS Orion was hit several times by bombs from enemy aircraft. At that time he was serving as a Boy Telegraphist and was seventeen years of age.
Nineteen years of age, Telegraphist Tunnicliff is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Tunnicliff of Langworthy Estate East, Salford. He was born in Salford and was educated at the Regent Road Council School.
His father told the “City Reporter” that his son had made no mention of the circumstances in which he was awarded the medal, and preferred not to speak of the action.
“I was very proud” he said “to be able to attend the investiture at Buckingham Palace and to see John decorated.”
Telegraphist Tunnicliff joined the Navy in January 1939, and won medals and prizes for swimming whilst he was training on HMS Ganges. He has since served on the cruiser Liverpool and the destroyer Wallace.
He was aboard HMS Orion during the Battle of Cape Matapan when a British battle fleet sank two cruisers and three destroyers of the Italian Navy.
His father is a member of the Home Guard and his younger brother, Private Peter Tunnicliff, is a member of the Weaste Company of the Salford Home Guard.
John Tunnicliff contributed an interview to BBC's WW2 People's War website in 2005. The interview can be read here.
At a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace the King decorated Telegraphist John Tunnicliff of the Royal Navy with the Distinguished Service Medal.
The award was made for his gallantry aboard the light cruiser, Orion, during the evacuation of the British Forces from Crete. During these operations HMS Orion was hit several times by bombs from enemy aircraft. At that time he was serving as a Boy Telegraphist and was seventeen years of age.
Nineteen years of age, Telegraphist Tunnicliff is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Tunnicliff of Langworthy Estate East, Salford. He was born in Salford and was educated at the Regent Road Council School.
His father told the “City Reporter” that his son had made no mention of the circumstances in which he was awarded the medal, and preferred not to speak of the action.
“I was very proud” he said “to be able to attend the investiture at Buckingham Palace and to see John decorated.”
Telegraphist Tunnicliff joined the Navy in January 1939, and won medals and prizes for swimming whilst he was training on HMS Ganges. He has since served on the cruiser Liverpool and the destroyer Wallace.
He was aboard HMS Orion during the Battle of Cape Matapan when a British battle fleet sank two cruisers and three destroyers of the Italian Navy.
His father is a member of the Home Guard and his younger brother, Private Peter Tunnicliff, is a member of the Weaste Company of the Salford Home Guard.
John Tunnicliff contributed an interview to BBC's WW2 People's War website in 2005. The interview can be read here.