Annie Frances Russell (1919–1941)

Annie Frances Russell, later Annie Frances Tanner, was born on 18 April 1919 at Chillenden, Kent, the daughter of Albert Victor John Russell and Daisy Beatrice Hayward. She died on 6 May 1941 in the Eastry registration district after enemy action in wartime Kent, and is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission under her married name, Annie Frances Tanner. CWGC casualty record. [file:1][web:5]

Early Life and Family

Annie Frances Russell was born on 18 April 1919 in Chillenden, Kent, and her birth was registered in the Eastry district in the June quarter of 1919. Her parents were Albert Victor John Russell and Daisy Beatrice Hayward. [file:1]

On 19 June 1921 she was recorded at Lower Rowling Cottages, Goodnestone, where she appeared in the household as the two-year-old daughter of the family. By 29 September 1939 she was living at 27 The Crescent, Snowdown, and by 1941 her residence was recorded at 29 Bell Grove, Aylesham, in Nonington. [file:1]

The funeral took place at the churchyard on Saturday of Mrs. Annie Tanner, aged 21, wife of Mr. J. Tanner, of Aylesham, and youngest daughter of Mr. A. Russell, of The Crescent, Snowdown, who was killed by enemy action.

Kentish Express, 16 May 1941, as transcribed in the attached report. [file:1]

Marriage and Home

Around October 1940 Annie married John (Jack) Charles Tanner in the Eastry registration district. The report states that the couple had no children, although Annie was eight months pregnant with her first child when she died. [file:1]

In family and commemorative records she appears both as Annie Frances Russell and Annie Frances Tanner, with one later memorial notice referring to her as Annie Frances Tanner (née Dolly Russell). For genealogical work, both surnames are therefore important search points. [file:1]

War Context at Death

Westminster Abbey’s summary of the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour explains that, under a supplemental charter dated 7 February 1941, the Imperial War Graves Commission was empowered to collect and record the names of civilians who died from enemy action during the Second World War. Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939–1945. [web:5]

That means Annie’s wartime designation should be understood as a home-front casualty classification. As a civilian victim of enemy bombing in Kent. [file:1][web:5]

Death in Enemy Action

Annie died on 6 May 1941 in the Eastry registration district, Kent. The attached report and contemporary funeral notice state that she was killed by enemy action, placing her death within the period of sustained wartime air attacks on south-east England. [file:1]

The report also preserves a local newspaper extract headed Village Air Raid Victims Buried, which states that the funerals were those of victims of bombs dropped by enemy planes on a village in south-east Kent. This makes clear that Annie’s death formed part of a wider local air-raid tragedy. [file:1]

For researchers wishing to investigate the raid context further, The National Archives notes that Bomb Census reports for 1940–1945 can record the date and time of bomb falls, type of bomb, damage, and casualty statistics, though they do not usually name the individual casualties. Bomb Census survey records 1940–1945. [web:4]

Burial and Funeral

After her death, Annie was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Nonington, Kent. The report states that she was buried after 6 May 1941 and specifically notes that she was eight months pregnant with her first child. [file:1]

A funeral notice in the Kentish Express of 16 May 1941 records that the funeral took place at the churchyard on Saturday, that the Rev. R. F. M. Clifford of Chillenden officiated, and that mourners included her husband, father, sisters, grandfather, in-laws, aunts, uncles, and many friends. [file:1]

• Husband: Mr. J. Tanner. [file:1]
• Parents and close Russell family connections from Snowdown and the surrounding district. [file:1]
• Tanner family mourners, including her father-in-law and siblings-in-law. [file:1]
• A broad circle of extended relations and local friends. [file:1]

Mourning and Remembrance

The report preserves extensive lists of floral tributes, showing that Annie’s death was mourned by relatives, neighbours, Sunday School teachers and scholars, the Pentecostal Full Gospel Mission, A.R.P. personnel, workmates and friends, and fellow workers at Garrington. These details are especially valuable for reconstructing family and community networks in wartime Kent. [file:1]

A memorial notice published in the Dover Express on 8 May 1942 remembered “Annie Frances Tanner (née Dolly Russell)” one year after her death, with the lines: “Treasured thoughts of one so dear / Often bring a silent tear, / Thoughts return of scenes long past. / Time rolls on, but memories last.” The notice was signed from her loving Dad, sisters, brothers, and little Peter. [file:1]

Treasured thoughts of one so dear
Often bring a silent tear,
Thoughts return of scenes long past.
Time rolls on, but memories last.

Dover Express, 8 May 1942, as transcribed in the attached report. [file:1]

Sources

• Attached PDF: Individual Report for Annie Frances Russell. [file:1]
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Annie Frances Tanner casualty record. [file:1]
• Westminster Abbey: Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939–1945. [web:5]
• The National Archives: Bomb Census survey records 1940–1945. [web:4]