David Tinker
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant
David Hugh Russell Tinker was a Royal Navy
supply officer
, appointed as Captain's Secretary in the county class destroyer
. He was killed in action on the 12 June 1982 on the last day of the Falklands War
, when Glamorgan was hit by an Exocet
missile fired from a lorry by an Argentine Navy team; he was on duty as Flight Deck Officer on the flight deck
, aft of the ship, within the helicopter bay, at the time. Twelve other sailors were also killed.
His father, Hugh Tinker, a writer and university professor, privately published a book, A Message from the Falklands: The Life and Gallant Death of David Tinker, which contained some of David's letters home, and poems written earlier in his life. The poems are reminiscent of Wilfred Owen
's earlier work. The book was first taken up by the Sunday Times, and then by Penguin books. It was subsequently adapted into a stage play called Falkland Sound by Louise Page
which was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre
in 1983. The book has also been published in Spanish in Argentina.
David Tinker went to Mill Hill School
where he served as coxswain
in the Naval section of the school CCF
. After training at Dartmouth, he studied at Birmingham University. He was married to Christine Daybell, who still lives in the cottage they bought together in Shropshire.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
David Hugh Russell Tinker was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
supply officer
Supply Officer
Supply Officer was a specialisation in the British Royal Navy which has recently been superseded by the Logistics Officer, recognising the need to align with the nomenclature and function of similar cadres in the British Army and Royal Air Force...
, appointed as Captain's Secretary in the county class destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
. He was killed in action on the 12 June 1982 on the last day of the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, when Glamorgan was hit by an Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missile fired from a lorry by an Argentine Navy team; he was on duty as Flight Deck Officer on the flight deck
Flight deck
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft is also referred to as the...
, aft of the ship, within the helicopter bay, at the time. Twelve other sailors were also killed.
His father, Hugh Tinker, a writer and university professor, privately published a book, A Message from the Falklands: The Life and Gallant Death of David Tinker, which contained some of David's letters home, and poems written earlier in his life. The poems are reminiscent of Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC was an English poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War...
's earlier work. The book was first taken up by the Sunday Times, and then by Penguin books. It was subsequently adapted into a stage play called Falkland Sound by Louise Page
Louise Page
-Life:She graduated from Birmingham University, and University of Wales in 1977.She was commissioned by the Birmingham Arts Lab, and was Yorkshire Television Fellow, at University of Sheffield...
which was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in 1983. The book has also been published in Spanish in Argentina.
David Tinker went to Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School, in Mill Hill, London, is a coeducational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged 13–18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an organisation of public schools in the United Kingdom....
where he served as coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
in the Naval section of the school CCF
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
. After training at Dartmouth, he studied at Birmingham University. He was married to Christine Daybell, who still lives in the cottage they bought together in Shropshire.