Christopher Tanner Explained

Christopher Champain Tanner
Nickname:Kit
Birth Date:24 June 1908
Birth Place:Cheltenham, England
Death Place:, Mediterranean Sea off Crete
Allegiance: United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Rank:Chaplain
Battles:Second World War
Awards:Albert Medal

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]

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 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 .[8] He is commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Plymouth Naval Memorial.[18] The rood cross at St Christopher, Haslemere is dedicated to his memory.

Notes and References

  1. http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/3779.html ESPN
  2. Deaths. The Times (London, England), Thursday, 3 Jul 1941; pg. 1; Issue 48968
  3. http://www.gloucesterrugbyheritage.org.uk/page_id__516.aspx?path=0p3p60p Gloucester Rugby Heritage
  4. Rugby Library Database 1851586342
  5. http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/tanner.html The Rugby History Society
  6. Centenary History of the Rugby Football Union:McWhirter,R/Titley,U.A: London, RFU,1970
  7. Web site: Kit Tanner: A Hero of the Battle of Crete . 26 November 2003 . BBC History.
  8. News: Admiralty . London Gazette . 24 April 1942 . 35538 . 1849 . 22 March 2023.
  9. http://arcadia.education/arcadia/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Cheltenham-College-Chapel-Brochure-.pdf Cheltenham College Chapel Brochure
  10. [Crockford's Clerical Directory|Crockfords, 1938 p1134]
  11. Web site: Eyre . Basher . 13 January 2015 . Inside St Christopher, Wey Hill (F) . Geograph . 22 March 2023 .
  12. MarriagesThe Times (London, England), Monday, 20 Sep 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. Web site: Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Temporary Chaplains . National Library of Scotland . 22 March 2023 .
  15. http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/rn-chaplains---rev-david-youngson.html TGTT
  16. "A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places" Swift,C; Cobb,M; Tod,A (Eds) p206: London, Routledge, 2015
  17. Web site: Padre C. C. Tanner . HMS Fiji heroes.
  18. Web site: Chaplain The Reverend Christopher Champain Tanner . Commonwealth War Graves . 22 March 2023 .

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