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Minor C. 'Jack' Tennant Winnipeg, MB Canada QCWA # 22306 Chapter 70 |
It has been brought to our attention by Ralph Cameron, VE3BBM that Jack Tennant VE4AHZ (ex VE3AHZ) has passed away January 19th; he was 97. Jack served as QCWA Chapter 70 1996/97.
He was presented with his 50 and 60 Year Golden Certificates and pins in 1998 and 2008 respectively.
Jack's most interesting and distinguished military career and life story is told in his obituary that can be found at:
Minor (Jack) Tennant, aged 97: husband, father, grandfather, war hero and gentleman.
Minor Tennant was born into difficult circumstances in rural Saskatchewan back in 1923. Placed in the Moose Jaw Orphanage as an infant, he was adopted and raised on a farm near Chaplin.
He rode to school bareback. The Dakota still lived on the land. There were hard days on the farm and lots of them.
The platform where, as a young man, he stepped on the train and headed off to war is just a mound of grass now. The town that he called home has long since been reclaimed by the prairie.
Overseas, he lost good friends D-Day morning when they landed on Juno beach. He was wounded himself but stayed on duty for hours relaying messages. After months recovering in Britain he went back into action,
contributing to the liberation of France and the rest of Europe. He went through the entire war always on the radio and never fired a shot. Jack, as his friends liked to call him, came back home with shrapnel
in his back and a beautiful young British woman on his arm. After the war he and Phyllis were stationed in Paris where he was assigned to NATO. Over the 67 years they spent together, Jack served many assignments
overseas in far off places like Egypt and Vietnam. Military duty also saw them living all over Canada. Together they raised David and Pamela. Another son, Jeffrey, was lost shortly after his birth.
After his career Jack stayed on the air as a ham radio enthusiast, speaking "over the airwaves" to folks literally around the globe and far above it. His hundreds of contact cards include those from space shuttles
and the MIR space station. In his later years Jack and Phyllis moved from the Ottawa area to Winnipeg to be closer to their daughter Pamela Tennant and her husband Reg Sherren. Of course, the fact that they also
adored their grandchildren Mitchell and Emma may have played more than a small roll in that decision. He lost Phyllis in 2014. Things were never really the same after that. There were trips with son-in-law Reg
back home to visit his good friend Delores Lansdall and family in Saskatchewan, and a return overseas with grandson Mitchell to honour his fallen comrades. In recent years he was awarded the Legion of Honour
medal by the Government of France for "Extraordinary Military Bravery and Service in Times of War." It is France's highest military award. In his final years, living at Deer Lodge, he always enjoyed going to
the pub for a pint while Reg played a few songs on the guitar (old westerns were his favourite) and short outings to Assiniboine Park with Pam who took such loving care of him every day. Another of the
greatest generation is lost to us. We all loved him so very much. Happy trails Jack. We will never forget you.
*Biography:
Grew up in rural Saskatchewan.
Education / Employment History
Attended high school in rural Saskatchewan.
Enlisted in Army in January, 1942. Trained at Vimy Barracks in Kingston as Wireless Operator. Sent overseas to England and joined a Signals Section supporting the 12th Field Regiment. Went on training exercises and on 4 June 1944 was issued a special backpack 2-channel radio and special code card. Boarded ship 5 June 1944 and arrived off Normandy coast around 5 AM. Boarded landing craft for Graye sur Mer (part of Juno Beach). Accompanied Battalion HQ Group led by Commanding Officer of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Came under mortar fire, wounded and radio set damaged and inoperable. Reported to First Aid Post and returned to England for hospital treatment. Returned to Normandy two weeks later and continued tour of Western Europe until war end. Served in the military communications environment until retirement from the Canadian Forces. Post war service in Paris, UNEF Gaza, and Canadian Control Commission in Viet Nam and Cambodia. Served in Canada as Supervisor of Communications Centres in various locations and retired in 1977 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Recognizing Jack's participation in the D-Day 1944 landings, a 2014 letter from Philippe Zeller, Ambassador of France to Canada, advised Jack that he has been nominated to receive the rank of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest of France's national orders, to be presented in a later ceremony. The letter states that the award "attests to your courage and your devotion to the ideals of liberty and peace".
Amateur Radio History
Initially licensed as VE3DAF in London, Ontario in 1948. Issued many different callsigns while in military including: VE4AE in Winnipeg, VE3FFW in Ottawa, VE3FFW/SU in UNEF Rafah Egypt, VE6ARX in Edmonton, VO1IE in St Johns, VE2BWG in Montreal, VE3AHZ in Ottawa and now VE4AHZ in Winnipeg. Enjoyed portable operations as guest in St Pierre and on three occasions in France. Now main interests are operation in CW,SSB, PSK, RTTY. Have had brief contacts with MIR and the International Space Station. Member of Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, and Winnipeg Seniors Amateur Radio Club. Involved in Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System as CIW 645 and CIW 715. Provided phone patch service to Canadian UN personnel serving out of Canada and now as a service to assist in civil emergencies. Joined QCWA and Chapter 70 in 1989, following introduction by Bud Jones VE3ET. Served as Chapter 70 President 1996/1997. Presented with 50 and 60 Year Golden Certificates and Year pins in 1998 and 2008 respectively.
*Biography prepared by VE4AHZ assisted by VE3XK