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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 104

The unique campaign group of five awarded to Gunner H. J. Tanner, Royal Marine Artillery, who was seconded for service with the Army during the Anglo-Boer War and later saw service at Ostend in 1914

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (H. J. Tanner, Gunr., R.M.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2651 Gnr, H. J. Tanner. R.M.A.); 1914 Star (R.M.A. 2651. Gunner H. J. Tanner, R.M. Brigade.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 2651 Gr. H. J. Tanner.), mounted for wear, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (5)

32 Queen's South Africa Medals issued to Royal Marines serving with the Army and only 33 King's South Africa medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines of which 11 were awarded to Marines serving with Army. Of these only Tanner appears to have earned the 1914 Star making the combination unique.

Harry Tanner was born in Lambeth, London, on 1 March 1867 and worked as a messenger prior to enlisting with the Royal Marines on 1 September 1885. He was sentenced to imprisonment just seven days later starting a run of mixed behaviour which was to keep him from earning the L.S. & G.C.

Posted first to the Recruit Depot at Walmer he transferred into the Royal Marine Artillery as a Gunner on 22 April 1896 and saw his first posting afloat with Conqueror on 5 July 1887 in time for the Jubilee Review. Returning to the R.M.A. Depot in September before being posted to Rupert from 1 October 1887 until disembarking ashore on 1 October 1888. He was next ordered to Invincible in September 1889, returned to the Depot in November 1889 to join Triumph, then in reserve, from 4 February 1890 to 19 April 1892.

Following a period of shore duty at the R.M.A. Depot he next embarked in Royal Arthur on 2 March 1893, seeing service with her on the Pacific Station and remaining with her until ship until 15 October 1899. During this time Tanner was borne on the books of H.M. Ships Imperieuse and Warspite.

Returning to the R.M.A. Depot on 16 October 1899 he was one of the very small number of Royal Marines seconded for service with the Army in South Africa 1900-1902. His service record carries the note '3 February 1900 to 11 April 1902 attendant to Major Barnes on active service in South Africa'. The roll states Tanner received a no bar medal in contradiction of his papers. Given Major Barnes received bars for Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal it seems logical to suppose that Tanner was eligible for one if not all these bars. On return to England in 1902 he continued to serve at the R.M.A. Depot until he was discharged to shore 'time expired' on 14 September 1906.

Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve on 19 January 1907 Tanner was mobilised on 2 August 1914 to serve with the Royal Marine Brigade at Ostend on 27 August 1914 as part of the British Force stationed there. Allied commanders wanted to deny German Submarines the use of Belgian harbours and also to put pressure on their lines of supply. Tanner was not there for long however being withdrawn on 31 August as more Marines were transferred overseas and in the end the position was abandoned in September.

Ordered to the repair ship Cyclops from December 1914 he saw service with a warship once more aboard Royal Arthur from January 1915 while she was a guardship at Scarpa Flow. Posted in October 1915 to Cyclops II he was Married Mary Ellen Emerson 22nd January 1917 at St. Paul, Upper Holloway, Islington. Remaining with Cyclops II until 21 February 1919 he returned to the Royal Marine Artillery Depot. Demobilised on 28 March 1919 he was discharged again into the Royal Fleet Reserve. Despite receiving consecutive 'very good' assessments for 20 years his chances were again spoiled with the assessments of only 'good' in 1898; sold together with a copied service record and C.D. containing copied census data and medal roll.

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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£1500