Reginald Whinney

Reginald Fife Whinney (known as "Bob) DSC (8 Feb 1909 - 1993) was a Royal Navy Captain who whilst in command of "HMS Wanderer" destroyed three U-boats.

Bob Whinney was born in England on 8 Feb 1909 and enlisted as a Naval cadet at Dartmouth in 1922. He was involved the Invergordon Mutiny in 1931 and was nearly discharged from the navy. However he worked his way back into a position of authority taking command of the destroyer "HMS Wanderer" in 1943. On 25 August 1943 "Wanderer" attacked and sank U-523 some 400 miles of Cape Finisterre. He was awarded the DSC for this action.

On 17 Jan 1944 the "Wanderer" with the frigate "HMS Glenarm" sank U-305 in the North Atlantic. For this he was awarded a bar to his DSC. On 5 July 1944 while supporting the Normandy Invasion, "Wanderer" and "HMS Tavy" sank U-390 of Cherbourg. Whinney received a second bar for this action.

In retirement he worked for Cancer Relief and wrote his memoirs, "The U-Boat Peril". He married twice and had a son and two daughters from his first marriage. [ "Captain Bob Whinney - Obituary". "The Weekly Telegraph", 6 January 1993. p46 ]

Works

* "The U-Boat Peril", Arrow Books, London, 1986 ISBN 0-09-962030-8

References