b. 21/05/1887 Denmead, Hampshire. d. 26/09/1978 Denmead, Hampshire.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 08/05/1934 Darjeeling, India.
Charles William Tandy-Green (1887-1978), known as Bob, was born on 21st May 1887 in Denmead, Hampshire, the son of Canon Frederick Charles and Anne Green (nee Owens). He had four sisters – Gertrude, Alice, Rachel, and Dorothy. His father was the first vicar of All Saints Church in Denmead from 1880-1930. Charles’ original surname was Green with Tandy as a forename. It is believed he double-barrelled his name as a mark of respect having been named as a beneficiary in a will. Charles attended Christ’s Hospital, Hertford, and Horsham School between 1897-1905, and played rugby for the first XV.
Charles W Tandy-Green GC
After school, he attended the Engineering School at Crystal Palace, and became a member of MICE (Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers). His first job was with the Indian Railways, before in 1909 he passed into the Indian Public Works Department. During World War I, he served with the Royal Bombay Sappers and Miner’s Corps, and then in Mesopotamia, before being invalided out due to wounds. In 1915, he married Phyllis Mary Callaway in India and they were to have two daughters, Elizabeth and Pamela.
He returned to his previous employment in Public Works in India, and by 1934 was a Superintending Engineer in Darjeeling. On 8th May 1934, the horses were being led in after the Governor’s Cup race at Lebong Racecourse, Darjeeling when an attempt was made by two Bengali youths to assassinate the Governor, Sir John Anderson, who was standing in front of his box facing the racecourse. Mr Tandy-Green was on the judges’ stand; hearing a gunshot, he looked around and saw a man pointing a pistol at Anderson. He rushed at him immediately and brought him down. The two men rolled together to the bottom of the steps, where Tandy-Green pinned the assailant to the ground until others came to his aid.
The London Gazette on 19th June 1934 announced the award of the Empire Gallantry Medal of the Civil Division to both Charles Tandy-Green and Bhupendra Narayan Singh. In September 1940, following the creation of the George Cross, both men automatically exchanged their EGM’s for the new decoration. In 1939, Charles had resigned from the Public Works Department in Bengal in order to re-join the Royal Bombay Sappers and Miner’s Corps on the outbreak of World War II. He was given an emergency commission in 1942 as 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army, and served in Burma and became Military Secretary to Sir Charles Bourne.
In 1947, he retired, and the Tandy-Green’s returned to England and settled in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He later moved back to his roots in Denmead, Hampshire. He passed away peacefully on 26th September 1978, aged 91, and was buried in his parents’ plot in the Old Burial Ground, Denmead. His medal group including GC, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45, George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 are privately held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: OLD BURIAL GROUND, DENMEAD, HAMPSHIRE.
Plot K3
Acknowledgement:
Kevin Brazier – Image of Tandy-Green GC Grave in Denmead, Hampshire.