Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Alexander Todhunter Rennie was born on 20 May 1897 at West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland, the youngest of the seven sons of Michael and Elizabeth (née Todhunter) Rennie. He was at home at West Calder with his parents and six brothers in 1901. Michael and Mrs Rennie and six sons, including young Alex, departed from London for New Zealand on 13 November 1908 per the “Tainui”. Missing was their oldest son Thomas William who had been with the family in 1891 and 1901. Thomas had, in fact, come to New Zealand in December 1906 and settled in Timaru.

The final calling up of the first Division of Reservists for South Canterbury at the beginning of October 1917 included Alexander Todhunter Rennie, carpenter, James Street, Timaru. He enlisted at Timaru on 10 October 1917. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Michael Rennie, 55 James Street, Timaru. He was still serving with the Territorials (2nd South Canterbury). There was A. T. Rennie among the men who would form South Canterbury’s quota for the 35A Reinforcements and were to leave Timaru for camp on 12 November 1917. They were given a public social on the Bay on 8 November and a brief farewell at the Drill Shed before leaving. Then in early February 1918, A. T. Rennie was one of the 41 men in the South Canterbury quota of the 36th Reinforcements draft who were ordered to parade before leaving for camp. Private A. T. Rennie embarked with the New Zealand Medical Corps of the 37th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington for Liverpool, England on 9 May 1918 per the “Maunganui”. Private A. T. Rennie returned to New Zealand by a small draft which was on the ex-German Liner Adolf Woermann, leaving from Plymouth on 14 August 1919 and disembarking at Wellington on 1 October 1919. He was one of the troops who arrived in Timaru by the south bound express on 3 October. They were welcomed by the Reception Committee and heartily cheered as they left the station for their homes. He was discharged on 17 November 1919, in consequence of being no longer physically fit for War Service, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Alexander married Agnes Scannell in 1936. They had two sons – Paul and Sandy (Alexander). Alexander Todhunter Rennie was called up for service again in December 1942. He died suddenly on 25 June 1973 at his Timaru residence, aged 76 years. Following a Requiem Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, he was buried at the Timaru Cemetery. Agnes died in January 1985 at Nazareth House, Christchurch and was buried with Alexander. Alexander’s brother Andrew Francis Rennie also served overseas in World War One, while Michael Joseph Rennie enlisted but was not fit for further service and Thomas William Rennie, married with three children, was listed on the Reserve Rolls. The three sons of John Rennie – Dennistoun McKenzie Rennie, Michael Bruce Rennie and Allan James Cullen Rennie - served in World War Two, Allan being killed in action in Italy in April 1943. Andrew’s son Peter Chanel Burns Rennie was drawn in a World War Two ballot.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [15 October 2022]; Scotland 1891 & 1901 census returns (ancestry.com.au) [23 December 2025]; Timaru Herald, 2 October 1917, 8 November 1917, 1 February 1918, 9 September 1919, 4 October 1919, 23 December 1942, Press, 26 June 1973, 16 January 1985 (Papers Past) [2022; 23 December 2025]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [23 December 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.