Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A K.P.M group of five awarded to Deputy Inspector-General J. T. Tanner, Indian Police, late Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers (Hodson’s Horse) and Motor Machine Gun Corps

King’s Police Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, for Distinguished Service (J. T. Tanner. I.P. Distt. Supdt. of Police. Bombay.); British War and Victory Medals (2-Lt. J. T. Tanner.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; together with the recipient’s riband bar, nearly very fine or better (5) £500-£700

K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1941.

Jocelyn Theodore Tanner was born on 6 June 1890, the son of a Priest in Holy Orders and a native of Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was educated at Winton House School, Hampshire and Merchant Taylors School, after which, in 1910, he departed for India where he was appointed to the Indian Police. On the 22 June 1917, he was commissioned into the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and attached to the Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers (Hodson’s Horse), serving with them on the North West Frontier during the Great War. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Motor) on 12 March 1918 and was advanced Lieutenant on 22 June 1918. The Motor Machine Gun Corps had Batteries 3, 14, 15, 19, 22 and 23 employed in India and on North West Frontier operations during the Great War. In 1919 Tanner resumed his Police duties at the Bombay Presidency and resigned his commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers effective 1 May 1922.

His 1937 Coronation Medal certificate shows him to be holding the rank of District Superintendent of Police at Dharwah and after transferring to hold the same position in Bombay he was awarded the K.P.M. for Distinguished Service in 1941. In the period leading up to Indian Independence, Tanner was appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police at Belgaum. Retiring from the service, he took residence at Folly House, Haughley, Suffolk and died in 1973.

Sold with named Viceregal Lodge, Simla, Certificate for the Coronation Medal 1937; an original photograph of the recipient as a youth in Cadet Corps uniform; and an original Winton House School group photograph, in which the recipient is identified.