John Rennie (GC)

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John 'Jock' Rennie
191929 October 1943

Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland
Place of death Riddlesworth, nr Slough, England
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Canadian Army
Rank Acting Sergeant
Unit The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)
Awards George Cross

Acting Sergeant John Rennie (1919-1943) was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he displayed in protecting others after a training accident at Riddlesworth near Slough on the 29 October 1943.

Serving with the The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), he was overseeing a grenade throwing drill when a live grenade rolled back into the trench his men were in. He pushed another man out of the way, picked up the grenade and attempted to throw it to safety as it exploded. He was mortally wounded but, by his sacrifice, had protected his comrades from the explosion. "Jock" Rennie was born in Aberdeen in Scotland in 1920 and had emigrated with his family to [Kitchener,[Ontario]] as a child.[1]

A plaque in his honour is displayed on the wall of the Armouries on the east side of James Street North in Hamilton, Canada. [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ George Cross database Accessed 20 November 2007.
  2. ^ Acting Sergeant John Rennie, G.C. 1919-1943. Ontario Plaques.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.