Wilfred Fanner

Story:
Wilfred Fanner was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 24 Aug 1894 and baptised at the nearby Birdbush Independent Chapel, Donhead St. Mary, on 16 Sep 1894 the son of Arthur Fanner, a Carpenter, and Ellen Fanner (nee Martin).   He spent all his life apart from Military Service in Donhead St. Mary.   He had enlisted on 11 Dec 1915 with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 16468).  He served in the UK at Bovington Camp, Wool, Dorset, with the 7th Battalion until 12 Apr 1916 when he was released for service with the Royal Navy effective from 12 Sep 1916 as an Ordinary Seaman (Service No. J58456).  He was transferred to the Special Trawler Reserve on 4 Dec 1916 (Service No. 13581/DA).  It is, from what transpired later, that he was then not actually serving, even though he was awarded the Victory and British War Medals, as he died back at his home on 17 Feb 1919 at the age of only 24 years.   His brother, Tom Fanner, also served and survived the conflict.