Chronology Report Page 1 Name: Lt. CMDR. William Sydney Gaius Tanner M.B.E., M.V.O. AKA: Bob Parents: William Tanner (born on 6 Feb 1877 in Laverstoke, Hampshire, England - died on 2 Sep 1967 in Green Gate, Winchester Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, England) and Fanny Elizabeth Haines (born on 20 Jan 1879 in Sway, Hampshire, England - died on 17 Mar 1948 in 43 Winchester Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, England) Life Range 29 Jul 1906 - Q1 1975 Marriage: _______________. (Unknown) (Tanner). 1906 Jul 29 Birth: England, Hampshire, Whitchurch, Free Folk Priors. 1906 Sep 30 Christening: England, Hampshire, Laverstoke. Unknown Spouse: _______________. (Unknown) (Tanner). Unknown Son born (#1): _______________. Philip Tanner. Unknown Son born (#2): _______________. Clive Tanner. 1948 Mar 17 Death of Mother: England, Hampshire, Whitchurch, 43 Winchester Street. Fanny Elizabeth Haines (born on 20 Jan 1879 in Sway, Hampshire, England - died on 17 Mar 1948 in 43 Winchester Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, England). 1967 Sep 2 Death of Father: England, Hampshire, Whitchurch, Winchester Street, Green Gate. William Tanner (born on 6 Feb 1877 in Laverstoke, Hampshire, England - died on 2 Sep 1967 in Green Gate, Winchester Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, England). Q1 1975 Death: England., Hampshire, Southampton, Royal South Hants Hospital. Q1 1975 Burial: England., Hampshire, St. Mary Bourne Parish Church. General Notes: Birth Index: William Sydney G Tanner, 1906 Q3 Whitchurch H vol 2c page 219. Date and place Birth and Baptism from Jim Engert. 1921 - Joined the Navy. 1959 - Retired for Navy as the Navy's Senior Catering Commissioned Officer. Living at Downhams Farm Cottages, Egbury, St. Mary Bourne, Hampshire at the time of his death. Obituary No 1: Boy cook became chef to royalty "Echo" Staff Reporter A man who joined the Royal Navy as a boy cook and rose to be their top catering officer and chef to Royalty has died at his home near Andover. He was Lieut, Comdr. William Sydney Gaius Tanner, who was 68, and lived at Downhams Farm Cottage, Egbury, St Mary Bourne. Known to his friends as Bob, he joined the Navy in 1921 and before be retired in 1959 was the Navy's Senior Catering Commissioned Officer. He was also personal chef to King George VI at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral, and accompanied their Majesties on their South African tour in HMS Vanguard in 1946/47. SURVIVOR In the last war Lieut Cmndr. Tanner was serving on the Cruiser Fiji when it was sunk by German aircraft during the battle of Crete in 1941 and was one of the ship's 500 survIvors. For three years before his retirement Lieut. Cmdr Tanner was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Navy as catering advisor. He was a Fellow of the Hotel and Catering Institute and an international judge of cooking competitions. A native of Freefolk, near Whitchurch and the son of a papermaker at Portals, Lieut. Comdr. Tanner went to live in Hythe after leaving the Navy and moved to St. Mary Bourne four years ago but had been ill for most of this time. From an undated News cutting "Southern Echo?" Obituary No 2. THE LATE LT.CMDR.W.S.G. TANNER M.B.E., M.V.O. The funeral service of Lieut.Cmdr. William Sidney Gauis Tanner, M.B.E., M.V.O., took place in St Mary Bourne Church. After long service in the Royal Navy, Lieut.-Cmdr., Tanner retired in 1959 from the position of the Navy's Senior Catering Commissioned Officer. The Rev. B. Slader conducted the funeral service, and the family and personal mourners were: Mr Philip and Mr. Clive Tanner (sons), Miss Violet and Miss Ivy Tanner (sisters), Squadron Leader Roderick Tanner (Cousin), Miss M Fuller, Mrs Sylvia Tanner and Mrs Josephine Tanner (sisterin law), Mr. And Mrs Eric Sparks and son, Mrs Clive Green and Mr Edward Haines (cousins) Mr and Mrs Kelly. Mr and Mrs May, Mrs Black, Mrs E Duddington, Comdr. And Mrs Watkins, Squadron Leader Horshm, the Headmaster and members of Noadwood School, Mrs Cook and many other friends, neighbours and workmates who loved and respected the Commander. Undated -Newspaper cutting. Obituary No 3. Produced by Legacy on 9 Jan 2008 Chronology Report Page 2 Name: Lt. CMDR. William Sydney Gaius Tanner M.B.E., M.V.O. THE MAN WHO COOKED FOR A KlNG A man who cooked for a King and who was well known in the Whitchurch area, has died. Lt. Commander William Sidney Gauis Tanner was the only son of Mr and Mrs William Tanner of Freefolk Priors and the grandson of the late Mr Cobden Tanner of Laverstoke. He entered the Royal Navy as a young man of 23, and visited may countries making friends both in England and overseas. He was commissioned and before retiring in 1959 was the Navy's senior catering commissioned officer. During a Royal visit to South Africa in 1946, he was the officers chief cook on HMS Vanguard, and in charge of the Royal galley during the tour. He was presented with the Royal Victorian Medal by King George VI in June 1947. He was also second cook at Buckingham Palace and Windsor in 1950 and 1951. In the Second World War he was serving on the cruiser Fiji when it was sunk by German aircraft during the Battle of Crete in 1941 and was one of the ship's 500 survivors. For three years before his retirement he was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Navy as catering adviser. He was a Fellow of the Hotel and Catering Institute. Mr Tanner, who had not been in good health for some time, died in the Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton at the age of 68. He was buried after a funeral service at St Mary Bourne Parish Church, Hampshire. Undated Newspaper clipping (Basingstoke Gazette?) Death Index:William Sydney G Tanner born 29 Jul 1905, died Q1 1975, Southampton vol 20 page 1514. (Birth date one year different from Birth Index). Find or obtain Certificates? Produced by Legacy on 9 Jan 2008.