Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

One of three brothers to serve in WWII, Private Felix Ernest Tanner (Service No:WX2027) enlisted in the AIF on 24 April 1940, and was attached to 2/11th Infantry Battaion on 18 July 1940 when he embarked with his Unit for Kantara. From Egypt, Private Tanner was in Crete on 5 June 1941 when he was reported Missing - confirmed as a PoW of the Germans (PoW No:08920) on 9 November 1941, and interned at Stalag XIIIC. Private Tanner escaped - a 1953 newspaper article (The Swan Express; 6 August 1953) describes his escape and states 'Phil has no complaints with his present way of life. He has known the savagery of battle, the feeling of the hunted, the humiliation of the caged and the elation of fighting, back in victory and now he is content with the old quiet life at the counter. No dregs of bitterness remain in him' (Trove; 1953). Recovered from the Germans on 22 July 1945, Private Tanner was transferred to the UK, embarking from Liverpool for Sydney on 15 June 1945. Private Tanner was attached to 2/11th Infantry Battalion at Discharge on  11 August 1945. Brother Dick (Sergeant Clarence Joseph Turner; Service No:WX704) also served with 2/11 Infantry Battalion and was a PoW (No:09679) at Stalag XIIIC.

Phil was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1907, fourth child of Felix Ernest Tanner Snr (b1877 at Lara via Geelong, Victoria) and Catherine Mary Kennedy (b1877 in Sale, Victoria) Following their marriage in 1896, Felix and Catherine moved to Parkes, New South Wales until 1900, when they moved to Perth, Western Australia. Felix worked as an Engine Driver in Perth before moving his family to Katanning, where he worked in the Katanning Flour Mill. From 1917, Felix was a Publican - Woodanilling Hotel via Wagin and Moojebong Hotel via Katanning. In the early 1950s Felix and Catherine moved to Perth.

On leaving school in the early 1920s, Phil worked in Katanning as Shop Assistant for JF Wanke, and was a competitive cyclist - in 1925 he competed in The Big Road Race from Beverley to Perth and 'scored a couple of guineas and a medal, he being the youngest rider' (Southern Districts Advocate; 28 Sep 1925; p 2). In 1930 in Katanning, Phil married Veronica Frances Brown (b1909 in Kyneton, Sale, Victoria). Phil and Veronica settled in Katanning, where they raised their family and Phil was a Shop Assistant before enlisting in the AIF in 1940. Following his Discharge, Phil and Veronica settled in Perth, where Phil was a Grocer. Both Phil and Veronica died in 1991 (Veronica in September and Phil a few weeks later in December).