Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Edwin Tanner alias Turner was born according to the register of seaman´s services on the 16th of June 1884 in Dorking, Surrey or according to the England & Wales birth index in the 3rd quarter of 1884 in Dorking, Surrey to labourer and drayman Richard Tanner and Eliza Tanner nee Ede.
Edwin´s father Richard Tanner was born in the 1st quarter of 1861 in Dorking, Surrey to carter and drayman Richard Tanner, born about 1813 in Dorking Surrey, and Emma Tanner, born about 1823 in Buckland, Surrey. During the 1881 Census, Richard Tanner junior was a lodger to labourer John Slater at the Square in Dorking. Richard was working as a labourer.
Edwin´s mother Eliza Ede was born about 1860 in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire to agricultural labourer and brickmaker Henry Ede, born about 1825 either in Dorking or Capel in Surrey, and Sarah Ede nee Smith, born about 1825 in Hatfield, Hertfordsire. Eliza was baptized on the 12th of August 1860 in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire. At the time of the 1871 Census, the family lived at the Dorking Union Workhouse. At the time of the 1881 Census, Eliza was staying with her brother William Ede, an ironmonger porter at Black Lane in Dorking. She was working as a general servant.
Richard Tanner and Eliza Ede married by Banns on the 19th of September 1881 at St Martin´s in Dorking. The couple lived in Dorking and Richard was working as a drayman. Eliza´s brother William Ede was the witness.
Edwin Tanner alias Turner was born according to the register of seaman´s services on the 16th of June 1884 in Dorking, Surrey or according to the England & Wales birth index in the 3rd quarter of 1884 in Dorking, Surrey. He was baptized on the 10th of October 1884 at St Martin´s in Dorking. At this time the family lived at Dene Street in Dorking and Edwin´s father was working as a drayman.
Edwin Tanner had three known siblings: Anne/Annie Eliza Martin nee Tanner born about 1882 in Dorking, Surrey, Edith Tanner born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Dorking, Surrey and William Tanner born in the 3rd quarter of 1899 in Dorking, Surrey.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Church Street Cottages, Meadowbrook Road in Dorking. Richard Tanner was working as a drayman and Eliza was looking after her children Anne/Annie Eliza Tanner, Edith Tanner and Edwin Tanner.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Ludlow Road in Guildford. The family´s surname was stated to be Turner. Richard was working as a cellarman for a wine merchant, Edwin was working as a baker´s errand boy and Edith was at school.
At the time of the 1911, Edwin´s mother Eliza and brother William were staying with Eliza´s brother John Ede, a brickmaker´s labourer at 10 Church Street Cottages in Dorking.
Edwin´s sister Annie Eliza Tanner married in the 3rd quarter of 1914 to Ernest W. Martin in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Edwin Tanner alias Turner enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 16th of June 1905 in Portsmouth for the duration of 12 years.
His regimental number was 221813. Edwin was over 5ft tall, had dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. His previous occupation was a packer. Edwin had a nickname Ted.
Edwin/Ted became a Boy seaman 2nd Class on the 12th of September 1902, and a Boy Seaman 1st Class on the 5th of August 1903 on the HMS Boscawen.
Edwin became an Ordinary Seaman on the 16th of June 1905 and an Able Seaman in April 1906 on the HMS York.
Edwin further served on the HMS Minotaur, the HMS Boscawen II, the HMS Boscawen III, the HMS Hermione, the HMS Britannia, the HMS Jupiter, the HMS Exmouth and the HMS Naiad.
On the 1st of January 1914 Edwin became a leading seaman on the HMS Excellent.
Edwin was transferred to the HMS Black Prince on the 21st of April 1914. He became a petty officer on the 1st of August 1915 and died on the 31st of May 1916 on the board of the HMS Black Prince during the Battle of Jutland.
The ship’s involvement at the Battle of Jutland was mysterious for many years. During the battle, the ship lost contact with the rest of the fleet and the British did not see the ship sunk. Entire crew, more than 800 men, died. The Black Prince lost contact with the rest of the Squadron as it came into contact with German forces at around 17.42PM. The ship´s last wireless signal was sent at 20.45PM, reporting a submarine sighting. This led to rumors, that the ship had been sank by a submarine. However, German eyewitness testimonies offered contradictory evidence. The ship approached the German Lines at about midnight. Releasing danger, she turned away from the German battleships. It was too late. SMS Thuringen fixed the Black Prince in her searchlights and opened fire, together with up to five other German battleships. The Black Prince was hit by at least twelve heavy shells and several smaller. She sank within 15 minutes.
Edwin Tanner alias Turner is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on panel 12.
At the time of Edwin´s death his sister Annie Eliza lived at 22 Lynn Road in Buckland, Portsmouth.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Richard and Eliza Tanner (nee Ede) of Dorking | |
| Brother of | Annie Martin of 22 Lynn Road, Buckland, Portsmouth | |
| Regiment | Royal Navy H.M.S. Black Prince | |
| Number | 221813 | |
| Date of Death | 31st May 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Jutland | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 28 | |
| Memorial | Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
