Norman Crabe RENNIE

RENNIE, Norman Crabe

Service Number: 3628
Enlisted: 26 July 1915, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery
Born: Geelong, Victoria, Australia, May 1892
Home Town: Bairnsdale, East Gippsland, Victoria
Schooling: Bairnsdale State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Engineer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 27 September 1918
Cemetery: Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery
Plot II, Row F, Grave 31
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

26 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3628, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Place of enlistment - Melbourne, Victoria
5 Jan 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3628, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Embarked on HMAT 'A19' Afric from Melbourne on 5th January 1916, disembarking Egypt.
23 Feb 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 57th Infantry Battalion
15 Mar 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion
17 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3628, 59th Infantry Battalion, Embarked from Alexandria, Egypt on 17th June 1916, disembarking Marseilles, France on 23rd June 1916 to join the British Expeditionary Force.
9 Jul 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 25th Field Artillery Brigade
19 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 25th Field Artillery Brigade, Gun shot wound to left leg. Treated at Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to England. Whilst recovering also contracted pneumonia. Treated at various hospitals and discharged to various Command Depots. Proceeded to France on 23rd July 1917 from Southampton to rejoin unit.
29 Aug 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery
27 Sep 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3628, 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery, Killed in action

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Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

Son of Alexander Ross and Ann E. RENNIE. Born at Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Eight days after his death, Norman’s brother 2nd Lieutenant George Ewen Rennie was killed in action at Montbrehain on 5 October 1918, during the last fight the AIF was in on the Western Front.

Norman served with 25th Field Artillery Brigade form the 9 July 1916. He was wounded in action, 16 July 1916 (gunshot wound, left leg) and evacuated to England. He was admitted to East Leeds Hospital, 20 July 1916 (gunshot wound, left calf: severe). After several months in hospital, he was discharged during November 1916. After falling ill with pneumonia and some more training he was sent back to France during July 1917 and attached for duty to 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery.

He was sent on leave to England, 4 January 1918; found guilty, in London, of failing to salute an officer: awarded forfeiture of 3 days' pay.

Norman was killed in action, 27 September 1918. The OC, 10th LTMB, reported that Rennie 'received wounds in the stomach through enemy shell fire, causing instantaneous death, on the night of 27.9.18. He was buried in Military Cemetery, St Emilie (Australian Section), Allotment 3) by Presbyterian Capt-Chaplain of 10th Australian Infantry Brigade.'

Base Records wrote to mother, 1 July 1930, to inform her that 'the Imperial War Graves Commission have been unable to acquire the site of Ste. Emilie British Cemetery in France, and in the circumstances, it will be necessary to remove these graves to Templeux Le Guerard British Cemetery, an established military burial ground in the vicinity of Ste. Emilie.'

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