Orders, Decorations and Medals

‘Dargai Hero’ Regimental Serjeant-Major W. Rennie, Gordon Highlanders, who was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal and awarded a mentioned in despatches for his gallantry at Dargai, 18 October 1897, where he shot down four of the enemy

India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Chitral 1895, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2967 Pte., 1st Bn. Gord. Highrs.) with customised carriages between 1st & 2nd clasps; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Belfast (2967 Sgt., Gordon Highrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2967 Serjt., Gordon Highrs.); 1914-15 Star (2967 C.S. Mjr., Gord. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2967 W.O. Cl. 2, Gordons.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (2967 Sjt. Maj., Gordons.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2967 C. Sjt., Gordon Hdrs.), edge bruising, contact marks, earlier medals polished good fine; later medals very fine and better (8) £700-800

William Rennie received the rare honour for an 'Other-Rank' of a mention in despatches for his gallantry in the 'Reconnaissance of Dargai' on 18 October 1897, the award being published in the London Gazette of 1 March 1898:

‘No 2697, Private W. Rennie, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who shot down four of the enemy at very close quarters.’

William Rennie, was a native of Burthol Chappel, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born circa 1870. By trade he described himself as a 'Farm Servant' and was 18 years and 3 months of age when he enlisted at Aberdeen, Scotland, on 30 May 1888, for service with the British Army, and his local regiment, the Gordon Highlanders. William subsequently served overseas in Ceylon for 1 year and 19 days between 1890-91, and then in India for 6 years and 275 days between 1892-98, during which time he served in the Chitral campaign of 1895, and was again in the thick of the fighting on the North West Frontier of India during the Punjab Frontier and Tirah expeditions of 1897-98, during which both William and his regiment covered themselves in glory for their gallantry at Dargai in October 1897. After returning with 1/Gordons to the United Kingdom in October 1898, William was appointed Lance Corporal on 23 February 1899, and promoted to Corporal on 19 April 1899. He continued to serve with 1/Gordons throughout the duration of the South African War, serving a total of 2 years and 348 days in South Africa between 9 November 1899 to 22 October 1902. While in South Africa, and during the war, William was promoted to Sergeant on 4 January 1902. Shortly after his return to the United Kingdom he married Helen Wark Watson at Edinburgh, Scotland, in December 1902. Still serving with 1/Gordons, William was on 25 February 1907, further promoted to Colour Sergeant and appointed 'Instructor of Musketery'. On 30 November 1908, he was transferred to the staff of the 4th 'City of Aberdeen' (Territorial Force) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, which battalion he continued to serve with through to 18 December 1916. Evidently a skilled marksman and valuable regimental instructor of musketery, William also passed a course of instruction in 'Care and Inspection of Small Arms and Machine Guns' at Enflield Lock, England, on 16 December 1913. Company Sergeant Major Rennie served in France at the battle of Loos and elsewhere on the Western Front. After return to the United Kingdom in December 1916, Company Sergeant Major Rennie was posted to the 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders on 18 December 1916, and then to 42nd Training Reserve Battalion Gordon Highlanders on 12 February 1917. William was promoted Acting Sergeant Major on 13 March 1917 and remained with the 42nd Training Reserve Battalion of his regiment until he took his final discharge from the British Army on 21 January 1918. Awarded the M.S.M. by A.O. 73 of 1949.

The following tribute was published in the Aberdeen Journal, issue of 8 October 1919:

‘Retirement of Dargai Hero - R.S.M. William Rennie - 31 Years' Service With The Gordons

On his retirement from the service after 31 years with the Gordons, Regimental Sergeant Major William Rennie was entertained at dinner by his comrades of the sergeant's mess of the 4th Batt, Gordon Highlanders, in the Woolmanhill Headquarters, last night, and presented with a wallet of Treasury notes as a mark of the esteem and regard in which he has always been held in the battalion. Drum-Major A. Wilson presided, and was accompanied by Major Lachlan Mackinnon, D.S.O.; Maj E. W. Watt. Lieut J. R. Thomson, M.C.; Lieut J. Mackie, M.C.; Lieut J.R. Buchannan, D.C.M., and Lieut J. Johnston, while there was a full muster of the members of the mess.

After a sumptuous repast, which was purveyed by ex-Sergeant Christie, of Messers B and W. M'Killiam, Broad Street, the chairman called upon Major Mackinnon to make the presentation.

Major Mackinnon's Tribute:

Major Mackinnon said it had been the intention of Colonel Ogilvie to have been present at that function, but he had been held up by the railway strike somewhere in the vicinity of Brora. (Laughter). Sergt.-Major Rennie had joined the Gordon Highlanders in May, 1888, and that caused one to think, and he (Major Mackinnon) had worked out, that he must have been only 16 years and 5 months old at the time. In the army he had a long and successful career in what was the most honourable of all professions. He had finished with the rank of regimental sergeant-major of a battalion of the line, which was surely the highest ambition to which any man could aspire. At the outset of his army career he had been with the 2nd Battalion, but subsequently had been transferred to the 1st Battalion, and had been on foreign service for most of the time. He had been present at Dargai, where he was mentioned in dispatches, and for his gallantry there he was shortly afterwards promoted from private to full sergeant, and had also been recommended for the D.C.M. Before that he had seen service with the Chitral Relief Expedition. In 1908 his career with the Regulars came to a close and he came to be colour-sergeant instructor of musketry to the 4th Battalion in 1908. He had left his stamp on the battalion. No musketry party was complete without his presence and most of those present could testify to the progress they themselves had made in this important branch of military training under Colour-Sergt. Rennie's capable tuition. Shortly before the 4th Battalion went to France, and while they were still at Bedford, Colour-Sergt. Rennie succeeded the late Regimental Sergt-Major Buick as R.S.M. of the battalion. A man was not selected for that post unless he was a "topper" and knew everything from A to Z. He (Major Mackinnon) had been with them most of the time they had been in France, and Sergt.-Major Rennie had always been distinguished by a quiet philosophy and cheerfulness which at all times did a great deal to smooth over the great many difficulties they experienced. In France, organisation formed a great part of the sergt.-major's duties, and he could say of the organising ability of R.S.M. Rennie that it was "top-hole." (Applause.) He had now come to an end of a long and honourable career in the Army, and he was going to figure in "civvies." They all wished him the best of luck, and he was sure that in civilian life he would recall with pride the honourable and sterling service he had rendered to his country. (Applause.)
The company then rose and sang "For he's a jolly good fellow."

Sergt.-Major's Reply:

Sergt.-Major Rennie, in replying, said he would always have happy recollections of his association with the 4th Battalion. There was not a better battalion than the 4th Gordons ever landed in France. There might have been one as good, but certainly never a better. (Applause.)

The young soldier nowadays seemed to be far better off than was the case in his young days, especially in regard to money matters. He had "listed" at 1s a day, and out of that he had to pay 3 1/2 a day for messing and keep his kit in order. This meant that at the end of the week he had anything from 1s 6d to 2s 6d to spend on himself. In these days the private soldier had more than that to himself in a single day. He was afraid that many of them there that night had been born too soon - at least for soldiering. (Laughter.) He had to thank Major Mackinnon for the kind words he had used, and although he was severing his connection with the battalion, he could assure them he would always have its welfare at heart, and if it was possible for him to render any assistance in the future, especially if a shooting club was formed, he would do so most willingly. (Applause.)
In the course of the evening speeches were made by some of the officers present, and a pleasant evening was spent in song and story.’

An article with accompanying photograph of William Rennie, in 'Bowler Hat' and with all his medals-up, being presented with his Meritorious Service Medal, was published in the Aberdeen Journal issue of 26 May 1949.

With a photocopied photograph of a named group of Sergeants of the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders taken at Aldershot in 1908, Colour Sergeant Rennie is shown wearing his Indian and South African War Medals, nearby is Pipe-Major George McLennan, widely regarded as the finest Piper to have served with the Gordons. With copied notes.