By:Paul J. Condra
Members of the American Legion met last week with Malverne author Alfred Deeble to honor the writer and induct his 1997 book, Three Tiffies and a Sweeper, into the Malverne Public Library.
The autobiography had been unavailable in the United States, as it was published in Britain and the rights to sale remain there. However, in 1998 Malverne resident James Contrada a member of The American Legion Post 44 was given a copy of the book by Deeble as a gift of thanks. In return, Contrada contacted the publishers in England and obtained another copy of the book to donate to the library.
Contrada was present at last week's ceremony along with two other members of Post 44, Robert Fountain and Joseph Biondi. Deeble's daughter, Pamela, was also there for the dedication. The book was presented to library director Joan Kelleher.
Deeble served in the Royal Navy during WW II as an artificer (tiffy), and his book is an account aboard the HMS Clinton one of about 20 different ships Deeble served on during the war.
It's a marvelous book, you know what it is, it's living history, Contrada said. Then he read a portion of the book's introduction written by Vice Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly: It is a man of character in peace who is the man of courage in war. To anyone reading this book it becomes clear that Mr. Deeble qualifies on both those last counts.
Deeble then read a section of his book that he said applies to the sentiments of today, given the Sept. 11 attack on the United States:
London had been under heavy German bombardment on an almost daily basis and the author was thinking how WW II seemed to mark the end of the British empire. Yet, in an effort to rally his spirits, he quickly drove all pessimism from his thoughts with one reassuring solution, Let's get back and make sure we win the bloody war!'
Three Tiffies is a portrayal of life below the water line during the war. As Deeble describes it, the best artificers were those engineers with a knack for innovation, as he alludes to with this quote by Rudyard Kipling:
He's what is called a first-class engine-room artificer. If you hand im a drum of oil an' leave im alone, he can coax a stolen bicycle to do typewritin'.
Deeble was sent to Canada in 1943 to oversee construction of the HMS Clinton, along with the other tiffies that make up the title, George and Chic.
He said his time aboard the Clinton was probably the happiest time during the war, adding that there wasn't much about the war that was very happy.
From Canada where Deeble held two jobs, liked to hitchhike and drank in numerous pubs the book recounts the Sweeper's journey across the Atlantic Ocean to England.
There it crossed paths with the allied ships heading for what would become the invasion of Normandy. The Clinton then charged down to the Mediterranean and took part in the invasion of southern France known as the Dragoon. Deeble describes the risky mine-sweeping missions as his ship charged toward the shore under heavy fire to clear a path for the landing boats.
According to Deeble, Winston Churchill was at sea observing the Dragoon from the safety of a Destroyer.
Deeble later met and shook hands with the Prime Minister. At the library last week, the author even ventured a short imitation of Churchill. Rising from his chair and pretending to hold a cigar, the veteran repeated Churchill's words:
Never will we surrender! Never, ever, ever will we surrender!
It would appear Deeble still manages to exhibit the conviviality with which he carries himself in his book.
