A Tanner for your Medals!
Sergeant Charles Tanner Royal Engineers & Royal Signals
The Man Charles Tanner enlisted into the Royal Engineers (Territorial) with service number 797 in about 1914, he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 he was mobilised and entered France on 20th July 1915. His number later changed to 74242 and he reverted to the rank of Sapper, serving throughout the war and being awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Following the war, he was transferred to the Z Class reserve and re-enlisted into the Royal Signals as a Signalman, with a new service number 2554447. In Army Order 433 of November 1922, he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
Charles continued service in the Royal Signals Militia and promoted to Sergeant. In Army Order 162 of 1935 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal (Militia) one of only 94 to the Royal Signals, for a further 12 years’ service.
He was mobilised once again for service during World War II serving at home and qualified for the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal in about 1940 and second clasp in about 1943, both awards appearing in Army Order 164 of 1943. Interestingly he had then been reduced in rank once again to Corporal.
Charles was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his 2nd World War service.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 he was mobilised and entered France on 20th July 1915. His number later changed to 74242 and he reverted to the rank of Sapper, serving throughout the war and being awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Following the war, he was transferred to the Z Class reserve and re-enlisted into the Royal Signals as a Signalman, with a new service number 2554447. In Army Order 433 of November 1922, he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
Charles continued service in the Royal Signals Militia and promoted to Sergeant. In Army Order 162 of 1935 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal (Militia) one of only 94 to the Royal Signals, for a further 12 years’ service.
He was mobilised once again for service during World War II serving at home and qualified for the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal in about 1940 and second clasp in about 1943, both awards appearing in Army Order 164 of 1943. Interestingly he had then been reduced in rank once again to Corporal.
Charles was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his 2nd World War service.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Charles Tanner were acquired from Philip Burman at the OMRS Convention in London on 24th September 1994 and at the same time as the corresponding group to Robert E Venn.
They were of interest because of the two Efficiency Medals, and the identical ribbon being worn twice within the same group.
Apart from his medal index cards no further information was located due to a number of people with the same name on Ancestry.UK.
In January 2022, following an exchange of e mails with fellow medal collector Mike Couzens, he revealed that Charles was also entitled to two further clasps to his Efficiency Medal, making it an even scarcer award than first thought!
Forces War Records and David provided confirmation of the Army Orders; such a pity that no more specific personal detail can yet be found on Charles.
They were of interest because of the two Efficiency Medals, and the identical ribbon being worn twice within the same group.
Apart from his medal index cards no further information was located due to a number of people with the same name on Ancestry.UK.
In January 2022, following an exchange of e mails with fellow medal collector Mike Couzens, he revealed that Charles was also entitled to two further clasps to his Efficiency Medal, making it an even scarcer award than first thought!
Forces War Records and David provided confirmation of the Army Orders; such a pity that no more specific personal detail can yet be found on Charles.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: 74242 L.CPL. C.TANNER. R.E.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 74242 SPR. C.TANNER. R.E.
- Victory Medal:General Service Medal: 74242 SPR. C.TANNER. R.E.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Territorial Efficiency Medal: 2554447 SGLN.C.TANNER. R.C.OF.SIG.
- Efficiency Medal: 2554447 SJT.C.TANNER. R.SIGNALS.
This page last updated 6 Mar 22
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