TANGYE, John Edward

John ‘Ted’ Tangye joined the Royal New Zealand Navy during the Second World War in 1943. After training as an Ordinary Seaman, Tangye was sent to Britain. In June 1944 he was posted to HMS Isis to work as an Oerlikon gunner. Isis was deployed off the coast of Normandy during Operation Neptune. She took part in the naval bombardment of German defences, conducted anti-submarine patrols and escorted troop ships and supply vessels. Isis continued operating off the coast of Normandy after the landings. On 20 July 1944 Isis was sunk by a mine (or possibly a torpedo). Tangye was one of only 20 men who survived the sinking. He returned to England and spent time in HMS Drake, a shore establishment, until January 1945 when he was posted to the Landing Craft Flotilla in Falmouth, UK. He served in England for the remainder of the war. Tangye returned home to New Zealand on Christmas Eve 1945. He later wrote a book about his service titled ‘Just Ordinary Seamen’. The Legion of Honour was presented to Tangye in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary (2004) of the Normandy Landings.