Donald Eric Tanton was a Chartered Surveyor who joined the firm of Offin and Rumsey, Estate Agents, Auctioneers and Surveyors of Chelmsford and Rochford (Later to become The James Abbott Partnership and these days Abbotts, now part of Countrywide Estate Agents). He was an Assistant Auctioneer with the firm until 1 Mar 1943 when he bought out the partnership and continued to trade with the same staff. He was born in Hastings, Sussex, but once qualified, moved to Essex and in 1940 married Florence B Chantler.
He was father of Donald Anthony Tanton, known as Tony, also an Auctioneer. He was friendly with Paul Olley, son of Charles Frederick Olley, another of those on the list of names. Tony and Paul, along with Paul's cousin Alan, all played cricket for Rayleigh and the families, each with several sons, played football together with enough between them for a 5-a-side game.
After the war he became a Justice of the Peace and was awarded an MBE for Political and Public services in 1959. He was an expert witness (on farming matters in Essex) for the inquiry into the viability of the the then potential Stansted Airport in 1965/6
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockley Outstation | Observer | Unknown | 20 Jul 1944 |
College of Estate Management
In 1925 Donald was awarded the Kent, Surrey and Sussex prize for his results in the Intermediate Examination.
Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer
The name DE Tanton appears in the nominal roll for the Essex Auxiliary Units Patrols. However, it is part of a list that includes known Special Duties men under the name of the Special Duties Intelligence Officer Captain Childe. It is thought this is a rare documentary confirmation of involvement in Special Duties. The organisation's nominal roll is thought to have been lost after the war, the Home Guard Patrols nominal roll surviving as it was being used to award the Defence Medal, which the Special Duties personnel were not eligible to receive.
WO 199/3389
Nick Olley
www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41589/data.pdf
Hastings and St Leonards Observer 16 May 1925
1939 Register
Ancestry.co.uk