Branch of service: 15th Service Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment
Service No: 27510
Date & place of birth: January 1897 in Romsey
Date & place of death: 24 July 1917 (aged 20) near Ypres, Belgium
Frederick Fanner was born in Romsey, Hampshire with the family moving to Steep by 1917. His connection to Rogate is not fully known.
Family background
In 1911, Frederick George Fanner lived at ‘Minchins’ in Steep, Hampshire. He was the eldest son of Charles Fanner, who was born in Middle Coombe, Donhead St Mary, Wiltshire and Margaret Fanner (née Hiscock), who was born in Sutton Waldron, Dorset. Charles was a farm labourer as was Frederick although only 14 years old.
Sometime between 1911 and his death, Frederick must have moved to Rogate, but it is not known where he lived and worked. At the time of his death his parents were living in Gracious Street, Selbourne, Hampshire.
Military service
Frederick enlisted in Petersfield into the Royal Hampshire Regiment’s 15th [Service] Battalion.
Death and commemoration
In the few days before 24 July 1917, Frederick’s battalion was stationed near Ypres and were involved in general training with special classes for specialists, although on 18 July the Battalion had had a Sports Day, which the Battalion’s GOC had visited. The Battalion attended a Church Parade on 22 July prior to the Battalion marching to Murumbidgee Camp on 23 July.
The Battalion’s War Diary records that on 24 July “The Battalion relieved the 7th Battalion London Regiment in reserve. Reinforcements and details marching to Brigade Reinforcement Camp at Wood Camp. 27510 Private Fanner was killed, and 27004 Lance Corporal Magill and 9584 Lance Corporal Jacobs were wounded.”
No further details are given of how Frederick was killed.
Frederick Fanner is commemorated on the Rogate War Memorial and at the Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Ypres.