RENOU, Lawrence Adrian
| Service Number: | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Seymour, Victoria, Australia, January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Cannington, Canning, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Scotch College, Claremont, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Civil Engineer |
| Died: | GSW to head, Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, 6 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England Netley Military Cemetery (Church of England Section Grave No. 1872), Hound, Hampshire, Netley Military Cemetery, Netley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gosnells Road Board HR, Gosnells War Memorial, Victoria Park State School Honour Board, Wembley Downs Hale School Honour Roll 1, Wembley Downs Hale School Memorial Grove, West Perth Public Works Department of Western Australia Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1984, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1984, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1984, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide | |
| 27 Jul 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 1984, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, DoW GSW to head - awarded DCM for action | |
| 19 Apr 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Mouquet Farm, Mouquet Farm 3rd/4th September. 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out patrol work during a heavy bombardment. Later, in order to build a barricade, he filled sandbags for one and a half hours under very heavy fire. He showed a splendid example of courage and determination throughout.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62 Date: 19 April 1917 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Frederick George and Henrietta Renou, of Collins St., Melbourne, Australia
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out patrol work during a heavy bombardment. Later, in order to build a barricade, he filled sandbags for one and a half hours under very heavy fire. He showed a splendid example of courage and determination throughout.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917
Mr. J. G. Renou. C.E., of Adelaide-terrace, Perth, has received the following letter from Major Dean, officer in charge of Base Records, Melbourne :-"I have much pleasure in forwarding copy of extract from the second supplement to the London 'Gazette' of November 14, 1916, relative to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, the late Comlany Sergeant-Major L. A. Renou, 52nd Battalion:--'Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out patrol work during a heavy bombardment, later, in order to build a barricade, he filled sand bags for an hour and a half under very heavy fire. He showed a splendid example
of courage and detepuination throughuot. " (The above has been Promulgated in the Commonwealth Australian "Gazette.") The
young soldier, who was only 24 at the time of his death, was born in Victoria and educated at the James-street School and the High School, in Perth, subsequently joining the Public Works Department as an engineering cadet. He was engaged on railway construction when the war broke out and promptly responded to his country's call. He had served three years with the Perth Artillery Corps and was sequently well qualified for active service. He went through the Gallipoli campaan and was at the evacuation, subsequently proceeding to France, where he was wounded during the Mouquet Farm engagement on September 6, dying from the wounds
received two months later. Sergeant Renou was a grandson of Lieutenant F. Renou, of Greenwich Naval School.
The West Australian Friday 22 June 1917 page 7
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date – 6th November..... Lawrence Adrian Renou was born at Seymour, Victoria in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 2nd March, 1915 as a 23 year old Civil Engineer from East Cannington, Western Australia. He was promoted to Corporal on 16th April, 1915.
Corporal Renou embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 26th April, 1915 with the 12th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements. He arrived at Gallipoli in July, 1915.
Corporal Renou was promoted to Sergeant on 1st September, 1915. He disembarked at Alexandria on 6th January, 1916 (after evacuation of Gallipoli).
Sergeant Renou was transferred to 52nd Battalion on 1st March, 1916. He was promoted to C.S.M. (Company Sergeant Major) & Warrant Officer Class 2 on 12th March, 1916 while posted at Tel-el-Kebir.
C.S.M. Renou arrived at Marseilles, France on 12th June, 1916.
C.S.M. Renou was wounded in action in France 3/4th September, 1916. He was invalided to England on 24th September, 1916 & admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England on 25th September, 1916 with gunshot wounds to head – severe.
C.S.M. Renou was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his action at Mouquet Farm – “__General, brave and excellent work on the 3rd & 4th September, 1916. Patrolled trench during heavy bombardment on afternoon of 4th September. At 4.15 pm when it was necessary to fall back 150 yards and build new barricades. He filled sandbags for 1 ½ hours under heavy fire until wounded.”
Company Sergeant Major Lawrence Adrian Renou was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal – Routine Orders dated 21st October, 1916. (London Gazette – 14th November, 1916; Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 19th April, 1917).
Company Sergeant Major Lawrence Adrian Renou died at 3.30 pm on 6th November, 1916 at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England from wounds received in action in France – gunshot wound to head. He was buried in in Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England where 49 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/k---w.html
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