Military History

Embarked Albany per HMAT A16 ‘Port Melbourne’ for UK 23.7.1917.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 21st Reinf, 28th Battalion, AIF.
Tanner disembarked with the 28th Bn. 21st Reinf. at Liverpool 16.9.1917. He marched in to Rollestone 17.2.1917, then to the 7th Training Bn. at Fovant 8.11.1917. He proceeded overseas to France 23.1.1918 with 16th Bn. Tanner was transferred to 28th Bn. 25.2.1918 and taken on Strength with 28th Bn. 28.2.1918 and fought against the German’s Spring offensive.
Tanner was KIA 10.6.1918 at Morlancourt, Sailly Laurette, France. He was buried 8 1/2 miles SSW of Albert (K 13 b 35.45 Sheet 42 d), about 1500 yards WSW of Morlancourt.( Reported West Australian Newspaper 9.7.1918). His remains were re interred to Beacon British Cemetery, Plot 2, Row E, Grave 9. Sailly Laurette, Bray-sur-Somme, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Private 28th Bn. AIF
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Tanner served with 2 brothers in the 28th Bn. His brother Frederick KIA and George who returned to Australia.
Photos HMAT 'Port Melbourne'. Photographer Josiah Barnes. Photograph sourced from AWM B0259
           Rollestone, live grenade throwing practice. Photographer Dowes H. Album, photograph source AWM P10688.011.002 
              Morlancourt , photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM E04702
              Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette , France. Photographer unknown, photograph source CWGC
              Ernest Tanner. Obituary. Western Mail 5.7.1918 p19 Family Notices

Information Source
AWM B0259. HMAT 'Port Melbourne'. Photographer Josiah Barnes. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of th Australian War Memorial
AWM P10688.011.002. Rollestone, live grenade throwing practice. Photographer Dowes H. Album, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04702  Morlancourt, sourced Pictorial Collection Australian War Memorial,https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E04702/
AWM Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette , France. Photographer unknown, photograph source CWGC website, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/18600/BEACON%20CEMETERY,%20SAILLY-LAURETTE
AWM Embarkation Roll Ernest Tanner.
AWM Roll of Honour Ernest Tanner
NAA: B2455, Tanner Ernest.
St Matthew's Honour Roll
St Matthew’s Fallen
West Australian Newspapers
Western Mail




Boreham Street, Cottesloe, WA.
Caversham, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images