Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Michael Rennie was born on 27 August 1889 at Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland, the fourth of the seven sons of Michael and Elizabeth (née Todhunter) Rennie. He was at home at West Calder with his parents and brothers in 1891 and 1901. Michael and Mrs Rennie and six sons, including Michael, 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.

Michael Joseph Rennie attested voluntarily at Timaru on 27 September 1916. A flour miller at Timaru, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr M. Rennie, 55 James Street, Timaru. He had been medically examined on 13 January 1916 and rejected as unfit on account of weak abdominal walls. On 25 September he was assessed as fit for Home Service, although he had medical problems and numerous big scars on different parts of the body. Private M. J. Rennie was posted to the N.Z.D.C. on 27 September 1916 and promoted to Lance Corporal on 22 March 1917, then to Corporal on 8 August 1917. Transferred to B Company, C1 Camp on 15 October 1917, he was granted leave until further orders on 3 November 1917. The C1 Camp was held at Tauherinikau in 1917-1918 to bring the health of recruits up to the standard required for enlistment in the NZEF.

Michael resumed his employment as a flour miller. “The staff of the Belford Milling Company made a presentation to Mr Michael Rennie, on the occasion of his approaching marriage. The manager (Mr J. H. Holdgate), in appropriate terms, congratulated Mr Rennie, and on behalf of the company presented him with a substantial cheque. Mr W. H. Tubb, head miller, asked Mr Rennie’s acceptance of a valuable dinner set from the employees; and Mr Percy Clarke, accountant, and Mr J. King, storeman, added further complimentary remarks. In acknowledgment Mr Rennie thanked one and all for the valuable gifts and for the kindly sentiments accompanying them.” [Timaru Herald, 7 April 1923.] Michael Rennie married Margaret Dillon in 1923. Their first born, Terence, died at birth. Two daughters and a son followed.

Michael Rennie died at Timaru on 13 July 1974, aged 84 years. Following a Requiem Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, he was buried in the Dillon family plot at Timaru Cemetery. He was survived by his widow, three daughters and their families. Margaret Bridget Rennie who died in 2004 at the age of 103 years, was buried with him. Michael’s younger brothers Andrew Francis Renie and Alexander Todhunter Rennie both served overseas in World War One, while his eldest brother 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

Scotland 1891 & 1901 census returns (ancestry.com.au) [23 December 2025]; Timaru Herald, 7 April 1923, Press, 15 July 1974 (Papers Past) [24 December 2025]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [23 December 2025]

External Links

• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.