Christopher Tanner

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

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 five caps between 1930 and 1932.[6] He was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal for 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 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. ^ a b "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.