David Vanner was born on 5 September 1895, the youngest of the six children of Thomas Vanner (1855-1905) and Elizabeth Anne Vanner née Hislam (1858-1925). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1895 in the Greenwich Registration District, London.
His five siblings were: Thomas Charles Vanner (1882-1959); Arthur George Vanner (1884-1944); Christopher Vanner (1887-1908), Walter James Vanner (1890-1972) and Alfred Vanner (1894-1918).
On 6 November 1895 he was baptised at St John's Church, Deptford, St John's Vale, London SE8, where in the baptismal register his date of birth was recorded as 5 September 1895, that his family resided at 69 Oscar Street, Deptford and that his father was a painter.
On 29 August 1898 he was admitted into the Lucas Street School (now called Lucas Vale Primary School), Deptford, where in the admissions register his date of birth was confirmed, that his address remained 69 Oscar Street and that he stayed there until 24 August 1903 when he was transferred to the Boys' Department.
He initially served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, service number 1467 and entered France on 13 December 1915. He transferred as a Private into the Army Veterinary Corps, service number TT.03728 and was attached to the Wessex Divisional Veterinary Hospital.
He died, aged 22 years, on 10 May 1918 in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, his death being registered in the 2nd quarter of 1918 in the South Stoneham Registration District, Hampshire. His body was buried on 15 May 1918 in Plot A, Grave 1844, in the Brockley Cemetery, 113 Brockley Grove, London, SE4 1DZ and as he has no headstone he is commemorated there on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's screen wall.
His army effects totalling £4-12s-1d were sent to his mother, who was living at 30 Malpas Road, Brockley, London, on 7 October 1918 and she was also sent his £14-0s-0d war gratuity on 5 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is also shown as 'VANNER D' on the war memorial that is attached to St James Hatcham Old Church, St James, London, SE14 6AD. (His brother, Alfred Vanner, is commemorated on this war memorial).
He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, the London WW1 Memorial website and the Royal British Legion's Every One Remembered website.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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