Deryck Taverner (1914-1998) [119928, Lieutenant, No.1 Mobile Neuro-Surgical Unit, Royal Army Medical Corps]
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- born 4 December 1914, Devon
- son of woollen merchant Walter Taverner & Ida (née Truman)
- initially reported missing in the Dunkirk retreat, later confirmed as a PoW
- married Pamela Peggy Blakeborough (noted Huddersfield Thespian) in June 1945 at Holy Trinity, Huddersfield
- awarded MBE in 1946
- died 1998 (registered Q2 1998 Claro, Yorkshire)
Links
Notes:
- Examiner 18 June 1945 – marriage
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Huddersfield Examiner (08/Jun/1940):
NEWS OF SOME LOCAL SOLDIERS
LT. D. TAVERNER MISSING
Neurological Officer in R.A.M.C.
Lieutenant Deryck Taverner, R.A.M.C., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Taverner, of The Ridge, Brighouse, assistant neurological officer with the No. 1 Mobile Neurosurgical Unit, is missing in Flanders. Nothing has been heard of the members of the unit since they were seen in Poperinghe during the B.E.F.’s retreat to Dunkirk.
The unit, the only one of its kind in the British Army, was built and specially equipped for brain surgery. It was built under the auspices of Lord Nuffield solely for the special treatment of brain injuries. It was staffed almost entirely with specialists, and Major Henderson, of Leeds, formerly in charge of brain surgery at Leeds Infirmary, was in command. It only left the country three or four weeks ago.
Lieutenant Taverner, who was twenty-five years of age, was educated at the Huddersfield College School, the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, and Leeds University. He received his medical training at Leeds Medical School and qualified with honours at a very early age. Before the war he was assistant neurological officer at the Leeds Infirmary.
There were only two nurses with the unit and they were sent back a short time ago.
Lieutenant Taverner’s father, Mr. Walter Taverner, is a partner in the firm of Messrs. Brook, Taverner and Co., woollen merchants. Northumberland Street.
Huddersfield Examiner (27/Jul/1940):
IN THE FORCES
TWO DOCTORS REPORTED MISSING
LIEUT. D. TAVENER ONE OF THEM
STAYED BEHIND TO TEND WOUNDED
Two well-known West Riding specialists in neuro-surgery are officially reported missing — Major William Robert Henderson, of 25, Park Square, Leeds, one of the foremost British authorities on cranial surgery; and Lieut. Deryck Taverner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Taverner, of The Ridge, Brighouse, assistant neurological officer with the No. 1 Mobile Neuro-Surgical Unit.
Both officers were serving in the R.A.M.C. The unit to which they were attached was the only one of its kind in the British Army and was built and specially equipped for brain surgery under the auspices of Lord Nuffield.
Lieutenant Taverner, whose father is a partner in the firm of Messrs. Brook, Taverner and Co., woollen merchants, of Northumberland Street, Huddersfield, is twenty-five years of age. He was reported by “The Examiner” as missing in Flanders on June 8. He was educated at Huddersfield College, the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, and the University of Leeds. His medical training was received at the Leeds Medical School. At a very early age he qualified with honours. Before the war he was assistant neurological officer at the Leeds Infirmary. His father last heard from him on May 25.
An old colleague of Lieutenant Taverner at Leeds has told the Lieutenant’s father something of what happened in the last days before the evacuation. One morning, he said, he had made his way to an established clearing station with some of the wounded, only to find that it had been destroyed, and he was directed to an- other station which had been hurriedly prepared in a village church near Poperhinge. The first man he met at the church was Lieutenant Taverner.
He gathered from general conversation that although the doctors well realised that they would be taken prisoner they were going to stay.
Huddersfield Examiner (17/Aug/1940):
NEWS OF SOME MEN IN THE FORCES
Lieut. D. Taverner
An official notification has been received by Mr. Walter Taverner, of The Ridge, Brighouse, that his son. Lieutenant Deryck Taverner, who was previously reported in “The Examiner” as missing, is now a prisoner of war. Lieut. Taverner is a well-known specialist in neuro-surgery and was serving in the R.A.M.C. as assistant neurological officer with the No. 1 Mobile Neuro-Surgical Unit when he was captured. Before the war he was assistant neurological officer at the Leeds Infirmary.
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