William Fanner
Surname: Fanner
Other names: William
Locations in this story: Melbury Road, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, DorsetFranceBute Road, Croydon, SurreyButts Knapp, Cann, Shaftesbury, DorsetTisbury, WiltshireIslington, LondonCroydon, Surrey
Story: William Fanner was born on 19th December 1897 at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of James Fanner and Harriet Jane Fanner (née Stacey). His siblings included Frederick, who served in the Dorsetshire Regiment and the Royal Horse Artillery. The family lived at 4 Melbury Road, Melbury Abbas for a time before moving to Butts Knap, Cann, Shaftesbury by 1901.
William enlisted on the 3rd June 1916 and was mobilized on 25th September 1916 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. 223395). He served in France from 25 Mar 1917 with the 25th Motor Ambulance Company. At one time he was marked down as a deserter (following home leave) and on 30th May 1919 an inquiry was held. Unbeknown to the authorities he had been in hospital and this had not been recorded. Consequently the charge of desertion was duly dropped on 2nd July 1919. He was demobilized on 28th November 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with an Uncle at 53 Marlborough Road, Islington, London, working as a Chauffeur. He married Grace Clara Coleman in 1924 in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District. They went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he and his family were living at 36 Bute Road, Croydon, Surrey, described as a Motor Driver. His death was registered in Croydon during 1969.
William enlisted on the 3rd June 1916 and was mobilized on 25th September 1916 when he joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. 223395). He served in France from 25 Mar 1917 with the 25th Motor Ambulance Company. At one time he was marked down as a deserter (following home leave) and on 30th May 1919 an inquiry was held. Unbeknown to the authorities he had been in hospital and this had not been recorded. Consequently the charge of desertion was duly dropped on 2nd July 1919. He was demobilized on 28th November 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with an Uncle at 53 Marlborough Road, Islington, London, working as a Chauffeur. He married Grace Clara Coleman in 1924 in the Tisbury, Wiltshire, Registration District. They went on to have two children. By the 1939 Register he and his family were living at 36 Bute Road, Croydon, Surrey, described as a Motor Driver. His death was registered in Croydon during 1969.
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