Vernon Gladstone TANNER

Vernon Gladstone TANNER Update Details

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TANNER, Vernon Gladstone

Service Number:	VX36721
Enlisted:	16 July 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	Not yet discovered
Born:	Albany, Western Australia, 24 November 1916
Home Town:	Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling:	Coburg State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Respirator Assembler/Repairer
Died:	Illness, Borneo, 21 February 1945, aged 28 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Labuan Memorial, Labuan, Malaysia Panel 24
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Bendigo Sandakan Prisoner of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, VX36721
16 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX36721
2 Jan 1941:	Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX36721, embarked Sydney for Singapore
10 Apr 1942:	Imprisoned Reported Missing Confirmed PoW of Japanese on 13 April 1943
8 Jul 1942:	Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX36721, embarked Changi for Sandakan on board the Ubi Maru

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

One of five brothers who served in WWII, Private Vernon Gladstone Tanner (Service No:VX36721) enlisted in the AIF on 16 July 1940, and was attached to 6th Divisional Petrol Coy on 2 January 1941 when he embarked with his Unit from Sydney for Singapore. Reported Missing on 10 April 1942, Private Tanner was confirmed a PoW of the Japanese (B Force') held at Sandakan in Borneo, where he 'died of illness' on 21 February 1945. Older brother Clarence (Dick) was KiA in France.

Vernon was born at Cuthberts Siding via Albany, Western Australia in 1916, third of six children of Clarence Stephen Tanner (b1885 in Lara via Geelong, Victoria) and Edith Amelia Chapman (b1891 in Albany, Western Australia). Clarence and Edith married in 1912 in Albany and settled in the region, where they raised their family and Clarence was a Farmer. In 1926 the family moved to Melbourne, Victoria where they settled in Coburg and Clarence was a Gas Company Employee. All five of their sons served in WWII, and two died - Dick in France and Vernon in Borneo.

Vernon was a Munitions Worker (Respirator Assembler/Repairer) in 1940 when he enlisted in the Army.

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