Christopher Tanner

Christopher Champain Tanner, AM (24 June 1908[1] – 22 May 1941[2]) was a Gloucester,[3] Barbarians[4] and England Rugby Union international,[5] winning 5 caps between 1930 and 1932.[6] He was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal for assisting in the rescue of around 30 sailors[7] in the Second World War.[8]

Christopher Champain Tanner
Chaplain Christopher Tanner
Nickname(s)Kit
Born(1908-06-24)24 June 1908
Cheltenham, England
Died22 May 1941(1941-05-22) (aged 32)
HMS Kandahar, Mediterranean Sea off Crete
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve
RankChaplain
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsAlbert Medal

Tanner was educated at Cheltenham College[9] and Pembroke College, Cambridge.[10] He was ordained in 1935; served curacies in Farnham, Surrey and Gloucester; and was Priest in charge of St Christopher, Haslemere.[11] In 1937 he married Eleanor Rutherford:[12] they had one daughter born after his death in 1941.[13] In June 1940 he became a Chaplain[14] with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve;[15] and was awarded the Albert Medal for his work in attempting to save fellow shipmates[16] when HMS Fiji was sunk during the Battle of Crete in May 1941.[17] He succumbed to his exhaustion and died, aged 32, as soon as he was about to board HMS Kandahar.[18] He is commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Plymouth Naval Memorial.[19] There is a Rood cross at St Christopher, Haslemere dedicated to his memory.[20]

References
  1. ESPN
  2. Deaths. The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 03, 1941; pg. 1; Issue 48968
  3. Gloucester Rugby Heritage
  4. Rugby Library Database 1851586342
  5. The Rugby History Society
  6. Centenary History of the Rugby Football Union:McWhirter,R/Titley,U.A: London, RFU,1970 ISBN 0-14-327370-1
  7. BBC History
  8. London Gazette
  9. Cheltenham College Chapel Brochure
  10. Crockfords, 1938 p1134
  11. Geograph
  12. Marriages The Times (London, England), Monday, Sep 20, 1937; pg. 15; Issue 47794
  13. In 2003 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St Christopher Haslemere, this daughter and her two sons (Tanner's grandsons) were invited to the service > "The History of St Christopher's Church" p7 2014
  14. National Library of Scotland
  15. TGTT
  16. "A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places" Swift,C; Cobb,M; Tod,A (Eds) p206: London, Routledge, 2015 ISBN 978-1-4724-3406-7
  17. HMS Fiji heroes
  18. London Gazette
  19. CWGC details
  20. Parish web-site
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