John Howard Tanner
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Regiment: | Hampshire Regiment, 10th (Service) Battalion |
| Country: | Greece |
| Cemetary/Memorial: | Struma Military Cemetery, Kalokastron, Regional unit of Serres, Central Macedonia, Greece (Ref. Plot II Row E Grave 7) |
| Awards: | British War Medal Victory Medal |
Born on 29th November 1892, Lieutenant Tanner was killed in action on 15th September 1916, aged 24.
He was the second son of Walter John Tanner (b. 1855), a solicitor, and Florence Evangeline Tanner (nee Tower, 1865-1931) later of St Mary’s House, 24 Dyke Road, Brighton in Sussex. He was christened on the 29th of December 1892 at Christ Church, Gypsy Hill, Norwood in Surrey. He had two younger sisters, Ruth (b. 1898) and Florence Mary (b.1891) His younger brother Bernard William (1894-1983) also attended Saint Ronan’s before going on to Lancing and Theological College.
John came to Saint Ronan’s in January 1902, alongside Duncan Wallis. That year he won a prize for Catechism. In 1904 he won prizes for English, Maths, Classics and Catechism. He was also appointed as a Prefect. The Ronian described him as a “very dogged tackler” on the football field
In 1905 he played cricket for the school, where it was remarked: “J.H. Tanner. A good defensive bat; has played several useful innings; very hard-working in the field”. He also set a school record for the Long Jump of 12ft 8½in.
Upon his departure in August 1905, the Headmaster, Mr Stanley, expressed his regret at parting with John and his classmates, R C G Middleton, G H Gameson, D B Wallis and R Holmes, and his entire satisfaction with the manner in which they had conducted themselves during their career at Saint Ronan’s, stating that they all left a very good record behind them, and would each and everyone of them be always welcomed at the school. To each of them he then handed a parting present of a book.
John went on to Lancing College where he was in Olds House from September 1905 to April 1911. He was a member of the Football XI in 1910/11 and in the Swimming VI in 1909. His brother, Bernard, also attended Lancing.
In September 1911, John went on to Keble College Oxford. He was a member of the Oxford University Officer Training Corps and graduated with a degree in Theology and a BA in 1914.
Following the outbreak of War, he applied for a commission in the infantry on 17th August 1914. At a medical examination, which took place at Oxford on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet eleven inches tall and that he weighed 155lbs. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 28th January 1915.
On the 6th July 1915 he sailed with his battalion from Liverpool on board the SS “Transylvania” arriving in Alexandria in Egypt on 17th July, before continuing on to Mudros where they arrived on the 26th. On the afternoon of 5th August the battalion, less 150 men who were left behind in reserve at Lemnos, were ferried in small vessels to the beaches at Gallipoli. They were in full kit and carried three days rations per man.
They landed at daybreak on the 6th and hurried into Shrapnel Gully in order to protect them from Turkish observation. They spent a frustrating couple of days before moving into position in the early hours of the 9th August in support of an attack at Chunuk Bar. They split into two groups, one group incurring a few casualties during the day as they filled a gap in the line near a position know as "The Farm"; the other group also suffered casualties at Rhododendron Spur.
On the morning of 10th August, the Turks counterattacked in great force in order to recover their losses of the previous day. Despite ferocious fighting the allied troops were pushed out of "The Farm" and the Hampshires fell back to Cheshire Ridge where they managed to hold the line against repeated onslaughts.
John Tanner was severely wounded during the fighting and was evacuated from the Peninsular, on board the Hospital Ship "Neuralia", arriving at Alexandria on 16th August 1915 where he was admitted to 15 General Hospital. A Medical Board sat there on 24th August to consider his injuries:-
He was evacuated to England on board the Hospital Ship "Glengorm Castle" on 8th September and landed at Southampton on 9th September 1915. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley where a Medical Board was convened to report on his case on 14th of October 1915:
"The Board find that this officer was wounded in action on the 10th August 1915 and that he received:
A Medical Board which sat at Shoreham on 7th March 1916 concluded that his wounds were healed and that he was fit for light duties. They posted John to the 13th (Reserve) Battalion of his regiment, based at Bovington Camp and he joined them there the following day. A Medical Board which sat at Brigade Headquarters, Wareham on 8th May 1916 concluded that he was fit for general service.
On 31st May 1916 he embarked on board SS "Kalyan" at Devonport and landed at Sidi Bashir in Egypt on 11th June. He re-embarked at Alexandria on 14th June and rejoined his battalion in the field in Salonica on 30th June 1916.
By August 1916 the battalion had suffered such losses from malaria that on 21st August it was merged with the remnants of three other battalions to form the 29th Composite Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Beckett of the Hampshires. The 10th Hampshires provided one company of this new formation.
On 27th August the new battalion took over positions on the Struma River between Komarjan Bridge and Zouave Wood. During this period the battalion was involved in a series of raids and local attacks against the Bulgarian troops opposite.
On 15th September 1916 they planned an attack against the villages of Komarjan and Jeni Mahale. Half the attacking force under Major Garsia, including John Tanner, crossed the river in rafts to Chasseur Island and made for Jeni Mahale. They were supported by artillery, and worked steadily forward despite heavy enemy counter fire.
When they were 100 yards from the village they rushed it and quickly overcame the defenders. During this phase of the attack Lieutenant Tanner was shot and killed. The survivors readied themselves for a counterattack but this was not forthcoming and they withdrew after an hour. The rest of the Battalion attacked at Komarjan and fell back at 7:00pm as arranged. Casualties were Lieutenant John Tanner and five other ranks killed with 14 other ranks wounded.
His father received the following telegram dated 16th September 1916:
September 15th. The Army Council express their sympathy.”
A fellow officer wrote of him:
He is commemorated on the memorials at Lancing and Keeble College, Oxford.
His younger brother, Bernard, also served in the War, as a Lieutenant with the Royal Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion (London Regiment). He served in Salonika and France and was awarded the Military Cross in 1919. He went on to Theological College in 1919 and became ordained. In 1928, The Ronian reported that “The Rev. B.W. Tanner is in Western Australia, where he has gone for a period of five years as Bush brother to the groups at St. Margaret’s River of the Bunbury Diocese.” From 1939 until 1950, he served the parish of Portfield, Chichester, West Sussex.
