British Army

Royal Army Service Corps

William John Tinneny

William John Tinneny, son of Robert and Bridget Rooney Tinneny of Belturbet and Castle Saunderson, County Cavan, Ireland, served in the British Army in World War I. He was a private in the Army Service Corps. The ASC corps was the British Army’s logistics arm responsible for transporting supplies, equipment, and personnel to the front lines during World War I. Initially known as the Army Service Corps (ASC), it was granted the "Royal" prefix in 1918 for its crucial role in supplying the army. The ASC used a variety of transport methods, including horses, vehicles, railways, and waterways, to deliver essential supplies like food, clothing, weapons, and ammunition.  

William appears to have been a “soldier’s soldier” who really cared for the troops. Two brief stories he told his daughter about his time in the army have been passed down. 

During the fighting in France he told of the time he commandeered a chicken from a pen where chickens were kept for the officers. He said the men were half-starved. The wife of one of the officers saw him but when there was an “identification parade” she didn’t point him out as the culprit!  

Another account was of William returning to the battle field to look for his younger brother Francis (killed in the battle). He said he was unable to locate him.

William was awarded two medals for his service, the Victory Medal and British War Medal granted under Army Orders 301 30/8/19 and V of 16/7/19.

Victory Medal World War I	British War Medal World War I

The impact of his service during the war lingered for William throughout his life

William was the grandson of Francis and Ann Elliott Tinneny of Belturbet and great-grandson of Thomas Tinneny of Goladuff, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. 

Photo: William in his later years in the absence of a known photo of him in uniform. Courtesy of Hilda Alford Bellamy.