William Victor Tanner was born on 26 September 1887, in Kensington, Middlesex (now Greater London), the third of the four children of George Tanner (1857-1922) and Eliza Tanner née Head (b.1862). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1887 in the Chelsea Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
When the census that was undertaken on 5 April 1891, he was shown as aged 3 years and living at 658 Harrow Road, Kensal Town, London, with his parents and two siblings: Edith Annie Tanner (1883-1975) and Jessie Eliza Tanner (1885-1980) who were both listed as scholars. His father was described as a ticket collector.
In March 1907 he was appointed as an Assistant Postman in West London and in December 1907 he was promoted to the grade of Postman.
He was shown as aged 23 years and a postman on the census return form that was completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in three rooms within 91 Sixth Avenue, Queen's Park, Paddington, with his parents and his brother Albert Edward Tanner (b.1897) who was listed as at school. His father described himself as a railway ticket collector.
On the outbreak of World War One he joined the 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (Post Office Rifles), service number 2896 and landed in France on 18 March 1915. Rising to the rank of Serjeant he was killed in action, aged 28 years, on 15 September 1916 and as he has no known grave he is of the Thiepval Memorial, Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France.
On 22 November 1916 the Post Office awarded his legal representative his Royal Mail gratuity of £100-1s-2d for his 8 years, 9 months service. Probate was granted to his mother on 2 January 1917 and his address was confirmed as 91 Sixth Avenue, Queen’s Park. His effects totalled £330-15s-5d. His army effects totalling £4-4s-5d were sent to his mother on 20 February 1917 as was a war gratuity of £11-10s-0d on 30 September 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'TANNER, W. V.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them