Description
British War Medal & Victory Medal, Efficiency, bar Territorial, GV, Sergeant V.R. Rennie, 18th Bn (London Irish) London Regiment later Territorial RA, 51st London A.A. Battery. With Silver War Badge.
Sergeant Victor Robert Rennie was a long serving soldier, first signing up in the middle of the war with the 18th London Irish Fusiliers aged just 16 in 1915, serving in France he was wounded and invalided out of the Army.
Not done, he rejoined the Army in 1920, signing on with a newly formed unit, the 47th Battalion of Royal Fusiliers.
These unfortunate men were on 1 year contracts and posted to serve in France with the Grave Registration Unit, their duties involving exhuming and reburying battlefield casualties.
After this was over, naturally rather than sit idle he began an over 20 year association with the Territorial Army, joining the local RASC TA before spending many years with the 51st London A.A. Brigade earning his Efficiency Medal in 1936.
Even after finishing a 15 year term of engagement, he rejoined again to serve through to at least 1940.
WW1 pair officially impressed: “519373 Pte V.R. Rennie. 18-Lond. R.”
Efficiency officially impressed: “6452862 Sjt V.R. Rennie. R.A.”
The 3 medals mounted on original silk ribbons sewn together, with recipients original silver war badge, numbered: “B296877”
War Badge confirmed on the roll, and Efficiency Medal awarded in Army Order 39 of 1936, issued to him on 25th April 1936.
Victor Robert Rennie, was born on 1st April 1899 in Pimlico, London, Middlesex.
As he was very young when World War 1 began, he managed to enlist at 16 into the 18th London Irish on 12th May 1915.
As he was underage at this time he served at home in the Training Reserve, once he was old enough, he was finally sent to the front in France, serving there with the 18th Bn London Regiment from 21st March 1918 until he was invalided home in later that year.
It appears however that he might have signed on underage and lied about his age, as Silver War Badge records believed him to be 23 on discharge in 1919, making him conveniently about 18-19 on enlistment in 1915 whereas he was barely 16.
He received a shell wound to the leg on 25th August 1918 and was invalided back home on 2nd October 1918.
He received his Silver War Badge and was discharged on 28th March 1919.
During his service he had an extensive list of entries in the Defaulters Books for various offences such as absences.
He rejoined the Army with the 47th Royal Fusiliers from 28th January 1920 until 16th October 1920, during that time serving in France from 10th Feb 1920 until 29th Sept 1920.
During that time, the 47th Bn Royal Fusiliers was formed and sent to France for the grim job of the “Grave Registration Unit” being tasked with exhuming and reburying battlefield casualties and guarding left over prisoners of war.
However he was not done, and re-enlisted many times in the Territorial Army, leading to his Efficiency Medal being earned during 1936, particularly for his local service accrued with units such as the 51st London A.A. Battery Royal Artillery.
He joined the Royal Army Service Corps TA at first from 16th July 1923, before transferring at his own request to the 51st London AA Bde RA on 18th February 1925.
Going from Driver in 18th Feb 1925, to Gunner on 19th Feb 1925, to Lance Bombardier, 21st may 1925, then Bombardier, 4th July 1925, to lance Sergeant on 2nd July 1926, to Sergeant on 6th June 1928.
He served out the rest of his 15 years of service in the RA TA until discharge on 15th July 1938.
His service not yet done, he re-enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery Coastal Defence and Anti Aircraft again on 31st January 1939.
At which time he was working as a “4th Class Examiner” living in Bramley, Hampshire, noting his prior service, as Discharged medically Unfit back in WW1 with the 18th London’s and then with the 51st London AA Bde RATA due to expiration of service.
Joining up as a Gunner with extensive experience, he was promoted to Bombadier on 18th April 1939, followed by Sergeant on 17th May 1939, serving with the 78/24 Light A.A. Battery and then the 78/36 from September 1939.
He was again discharged on 21st February 1940.
Victor later died on 3rd May 1973 in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
