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.[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.[19]

References
  1. ESPN
  2. Deaths. The Times (London, England), Thursday, 3 Jul 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. "Kit Tanner: A Hero of the Battle of Crete". BBC History. 26 November 2003.
  8. "Admiralty". London Gazette. No. 35538. 24 April 1942. p. 1849. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  9. Cheltenham College Chapel Brochure
  10. Crockfords, 1938 p1134
  11. Eyre, Basher (13 January 2015). "Inside St Christopher, Wey Hill (F)". Geograph. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  12. Marriages The 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. "Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Temporary Chaplains". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  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. "Padre C. C. Tanner". HMS Fiji heroes.
  18. "Chaplain The Reverend Christopher Champain Tanner". Commonwealth War Graves. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  19. Historic England. "Church of St Christopher (Grade II) (1244472)". National Heritage List for England.
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