Major John Gillies Rennie

John Gillies Rennie was born on 14 November 1904 at Brooklet, on a farm near Huntingdon, Quebec. His parents were Frederick Malcolm Rennie and Maria Rennie. He attended Huntingdon Academy, studied at McGill and Bishop's, and graduated with an honours B.A. in Economics and Political Science in 1929. He taught at Frelighsburg and later served as a school principal, teacher and athletic instructor at Pointe-Claire. He worked for Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, qualifying as a Chartered Life Underwriter in 1942. His interests included reading, politics, athletics, golf, hunting, farming and public speaking. He married Margaret Ruth Davison on 28 December 1940. Rennie joined McGill's Canadian Officers' Training Corps in June 1940 and qualified in infantry training in March 1941. He became a Second Lieutenant in the Black Watch Reserve in January 1942 and a Temporary Lieutenant in April. On 12 June 1942 he entered active service as a Lieutenant and duty officer at No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South. He became Acting Captain in March 1943, later confirmed Captain with the same effective date. He served as Educational Officer, Assistant Adjutant and officer in charge of Officer Personnel. Eager to serve overseas, he was selected for Civil Affairs training. He embarked from Canada on 11 July 1944 and landed in Britain on 19 July. After Civil Affairs training and pool assignments, he went to North-West Europe on 11 October 1944. He served as second-in-command and later officer commanding 708 Military Government Detachment. His work included First Canadian Army Civil Affairs administration, military government in 30 Corps District, Displaced Persons Control Headquarters and 708 Military Government Detachment. He was appointed Acting Major on 12 October 1945. In March 1946, while serving in Germany, Rennie developed severe chest pain and was hospitalized. He was treated in British and Canadian hospitals, evacuated to Britain in May and returned to Canada in July. Further assessment in Montreal confirmed coronary disease and neurodermatitis. He left active service on medical grounds on 24 October 1946, when his rank of Major was confirmed, and was placed on the Retired List. His award records list the 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45, together with General Service War Service Badge 837273. His war-service gratuity was calculated at $937.97. Rennie died on 13 February 1952 and was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Hinchinbrooke, Quebec. His medals were sent to his widow in March 1952, and Memorial Crosses were sent to his widow and mother in July.

1904-11-14 — Born at Brooklet, on a farm near Huntingdon, Quebec; Brooklet, Quebec.
1919 to 1923 — Attended Huntingdon Academy; obtained junior matriculation in 1923; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1924 to 1925 — Studied Arts at McGill University; Montreal, Quebec.
1925 to 1927 — Worked as a teacher; Frelighsburg, Quebec.
1927 to 1929 — Studied at Bishop's University, graduating B.A. with honours in Economics and Political Science in 1929; Bishop's University, Quebec.
1929 to 1930 — Worked as salesman for Manufacturers Life Insurance Company; Montreal, Quebec.
1930 to 1936 — School principal, class teacher and athletic instructor for Protestant School Commission of Pointe-Claire and Beaconsfield; Pointe-Claire, Quebec.
1931 to 1934 — Bishop's summer pedagogy studies in 1931–1933 led to teaching diploma; completed summer French course in 1934; Bishop's University, Quebec.
1936 to 1942 — Insurance salesman and sales organizer for Manufacturers Life; worked in Quebec and Ontario and studied life underwriting extramurally, completing C.L.U. in 1942; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-06-03 — Commenced McGill Canadian Officers' Training Corps service and infantry rank-qualifying course; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-12-28 — Married Margaret Ruth Davison
1941-03-28 — Qualified as Lieutenant, Infantry (Rifle), through McGill C.O.T.C.; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-04 to 1942-01-25 — Served as C.O.T.C. sergeant instructor; one summary gives April–November 1941, another continued service until 25 January 1942; McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
1942-01-26 — Joined 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, Black Watch, as supernumerary Second Lieutenant; prior McGill C.O.T.C. service; married, no children; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-04-22 — Promoted Temporary Lieutenant in Reserve Force; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-05-08 — Transferred to 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Black Watch, as platoon subaltern following battalion redesignation; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-05-13 — Medical examination: category A; height 67.5 inches, weight 162 pounds, fully expanded chest 40 inches with 3-inch expansion; grey eyes, brown hair; vision corrected with glasses; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-06-04 — Army concurred in appointment as Lieutenant on No. 4 District Depot Home War Establishment, subject to medical fitness and documentation; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario.
1942-06-12 — Appointed Lieutenant in Canadian Army (Active), Black Watch, and No. 4 District Depot duty officer; address 2170 Lincoln Avenue; wife Margaret Ruth next of kin; Montreal South, Quebec.
1942-06-12 — Declared private will deposited at Bank of Montreal, University and Ste-Catherine, safety deposit box 518; no military will held in file; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-10-07 — Wife's next-of-kin address changed to 1620 Cedar Avenue, Apartment 4B; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-11 to 1944-03-25 — Served as Educational Officer at No. 4 District Depot; beginning appears to be 5 November 1942; Montreal South, Quebec.
1942-12-23 to 1942-12-27 — Granted Christmas leave, with 50 cents daily ration allowance; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-02-08 to 1943-02-21 — Granted annual leave; ending day appears to be 21 February; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-03-15 — Appointed Acting Captain at No. 4 District Depot; subsequently confirmed Captain with the same effective date; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-03-30 — Promotion recommendation recorded Driving and Maintenance qualification under C.A.R.O. 1530; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-06-09 to 1943-06-17 — Attached for rations and quarters to Canadian Army Basic Training Centre No. 47; Valleyfield, Quebec.
1943-07 to 1943-08 — Dental X-rays in July; examination and scaling in August; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-07-02 — Appointed Assistant Adjutant, No. 4 District Depot, handling officers, cadets and officer candidates; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-09-06 to 1943-09-19 — Granted 14 days' annual leave with ration allowance; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-10-20 — Officers' survey recorded Officer Commanding F Wing; recommended retention and described his service as very satisfactory; Rennie wished to go overseas; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-12-10 — Army approved confirmation as Captain, effective 15 March 1943; Ottawa, Ontario.
1943-12-12 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal ribbon entitlement recorded; Montreal South, Quebec.
1944-01-27 — Nominated for No. 11 Civil Affairs Staff Course overseas; actual departure followed in July; Ottawa, Ontario.
1944-02-14 — Vacated appointment as Assistant Adjutant while remaining on No. 4 District Depot staff; Montreal South, Quebec.
1944-06-10 — Recorded as officer in charge of Officer Personnel at No. 4 District Depot; detailed education, employment and hobbies recorded; Montreal South, Quebec.
1944-06-15 to 1944-06-27 — Deputy Minister advocated Civil Affairs training overseas; selected for overseas course commencing 7 August. Junior War Staff Course nomination at Kingston received no action because of overseas selection; Ottawa, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec.
1944-06-30 — Posted from No. 4 District Depot staff to the depot pending overseas movement; medical profile checked and dental scaling recorded; Montreal South, Quebec.
1944-07-03 to 1944-07-05 — Granted special embarkation leave; signed undertaking on 5 July to accept reversion if required by course grading; Montreal South, Quebec.
1944-07-06 — Transferred to No. 1 Transit Camp at Windsor, Nova Scotia; receiving entry elsewhere appears dated 8 July
1944-07-11 — Embarked from Canada under Serial 5000; struck off Canadian Army in Canada strength; Windsor, Nova Scotia.
1944-07-12 — Taken on Canadian Army Overseas strength; ocean passage preceded UK landing; At sea, Atlantic Ocean.
1944-07-19 — Disembarked in United Kingdom and reported to 1 Canadian General Reinforcement Unit
1944-08-07 to 1944-09-11 — Proceeded to Civil Affairs Staff Course, carried on training lists; return to reinforcement unit recorded 11 September; course designations vary in ledger; United Kingdom.
1944-09-12 — CVSM clasp entitlement recorded; same faint entry may also name Defence Medal; United Kingdom.
1944-09-15 — Attached to No. 1 Civil Affairs Pool, carried on Q List; United Kingdom.
1944-09-16 to 1944-09-17 — Ceased No. 1 Civil Affairs Pool attachment and joined No. 2 Civil Affairs Pool on General List; duplicate ledger gives October dates; United Kingdom.
1944-10-11 — Embarked from United Kingdom and disembarked in North-West Europe for Civil Affairs work
1944-10-25 — Dental prophylaxis and scaling recorded through Canadian Dental Corps; North-West Europe.
1944-12-13 to 1944-12-15 — Graded for Civil Affairs pay class 10 while specially employed; North-West Europe.
1945-03-21 — Attached to 1 Canadian Army Civil Affairs Administration Unit; North-West Europe.
1945-05-14 to 1945-05-21 — Civil Affairs attachments changed; final receiving designation includes First Canadian Army, but intervening unit wording is unclear; North-West Europe.
1945-05-22 to 1945-06-03 — Privilege leave in United Kingdom; departed by air for North-West Europe on 3 June; United Kingdom; North-West Europe.
1945-06-23 — Attached to No. 2 Military Government Detachment, 30 Corps District; Germany.
1945-07-11 — Ceased Military Government detachment attachment, designation partly unclear, and joined Displaced Persons Control Headquarters; Germany.
1945-10-12 — Appointed Acting Major while specially employed; substantive rank remained Captain; Germany.
1945-11-08 to 1945-11-19 — Granted 12 days' privilege leave to United Kingdom from the Continent
1945-11-14 — Attachment to 708 Military Government Detachment recorded on detailed ledger; a summary gives 1 November cessation of Displaced Persons headquarters attachment; Germany.
1945-12-27 to 1945-12-28 — Transferred between administrative lists while remaining attached to 708 Military Government Detachment; Germany; United Kingdom administrative records.
1946-03 — Granted 12 days' privilege leave, apparently ending 13 March; exact start unclear; United Kingdom.
1946-03-26 to 1946-03-27 — Ledger recorded changes between repatriation depot and Military Government employment; retained Acting Major and substantive Captain; United Kingdom administrative records.
1946-03-27 — Developed severe chest pain while dressing in Germany; admitted to No. 32 British Military Hospital with angina pectoris
1946-04-04 — Transferred to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital; later diagnosed anterior myocardial infarction/coronary occlusion; Germany.
1946-05-01 — Taken on No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot strength while awaiting evacuation; United Kingdom administrative records.
1946-05-04 — Evacuated by air to United Kingdom and admitted to No. 22 Canadian General Hospital from No. 7 Canadian General Hospital; Bramshott, England, United Kingdom.
1946-05-10 to 1946-05-27 — Dental restorations and prophylaxis performed during hospital stay; No. 22 Canadian General Hospital, England, United Kingdom.
1946-05-13 — Medical repatriation board recommended evacuation to Canada as berth case, P5R; No. 22 Canadian General Hospital, England, United Kingdom.
1946-05-29 — Discharged from No. 22 Canadian General Hospital to No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot; later ledger annotation dated 4 June; United Kingdom.
1946-06-04 — Army message noted he had not completed the overseas period required for confirmation as Major; repatriation in acting rank authorized; London, England, United Kingdom.
1946-06-25 — Readmitted to No. 22 Canadian General Hospital after chest oppression and breathlessness at repatriation depot; United Kingdom.
1946-07-16 — Discharged from hospital for repatriation as stretcher case; struck off Canadian Army Overseas/No. 1 Repatriation Depot strength; United Kingdom.
1946-07-17 to 1946-07-19 — Taken on No. 4 District Depot strength administratively from 17 July; gratuity certification counted overseas service through 19 July; Montreal South, Quebec; overseas passage.
1946-07-25 — Returned physically to Canada; reported at No. 4 District Depot on 26 July; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-08-05 to 1946-08-21 — Admitted to Montreal Military Hospital/Queen Mary Veterans' Hospital; assessed for old coronary occlusion and neurodermatitis; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-08-19 — Exercise-tolerance ECG changes supported coronary disease; advised to avoid excessive strain and fatigue; Queen Mary Veterans' Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
1946-08-24 to 1946-09-23 — Granted 30 days' disembarkation leave; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-09-19 to 1946-09-25 — Outstanding servant-allowance credit of $56.66 forwarded; entitlement confirmed for 10 October 1944–1 May 1946; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-09-25 — Medical board assigned P5/U1/L1/H1/E2/M1/S1; referral to Veterans Affairs for cardiac disease, dermatitis, rectal bleeding and glasses; counselling plans indefinite pending health; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-10-24 — Confirmed Major effective release date, seniority from 12 October 1945; struck off Canadian Army (Active) strength for medical unfitness; placed on Retired List as Major; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-10-24 — Signed gratuity and rehabilitation-grant applications; $100 clothing allowance, 30 days' rank pay and 30 days' commuted leave with ration allowance authorized, credits through 23 November; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-11-23 — Army issued certificate confirming active service in Canada, United Kingdom and continental Europe and medical release; Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-12-28 to 1946-12-30 — Gratuity $937.97 calculated from 1,596 qualifying days and 738 overseas days; three stated monthly instalments of $312.65; re-establishment credit $582; Montreal, Quebec.
1947-01-24 to 1947-01-29 — Veterans Affairs requested rank/pay history for pension case; Army confirmed Lieutenant, Captain, Captain (Acting Major), then Major on 24 October 1946; Ottawa, Ontario.
1952-02 — Buried at Hillside Cemetery, Hinchinbrooke; burial day not stated; Hinchinbrooke, Quebec.
1952-02-13 — Died aged 47
1952-03-04 — Army will enquiry found no will in correspondence file, regimental documents or loose custody; Ottawa, Ontario.
1952-03-13 — Campaign medals dispatched to widow Margaret Ruth Rennie, care of Donald F. Rennie and Molson & Cushing, 437 St. James Street West; Montreal, Quebec.
1952-05-22 to 1952-05-28 — Memorial Cross recipient addresses recorded for widow Ruth at 1620 Cedar Avenue and mother Mrs. Frederick M. Rennie, P.O. Box 447, Huntingdon; Montreal, Quebec; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1952-07-05 — Memorial Crosses dispatched to widow and mother; Montreal, Quebec; Huntingdon, Quebec.