Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War D.S.O. attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. S. Rendall, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches for the Boer War, and died of wounds in September 1916 at the Thiepval Spur during the Battle of the Somme, whilst commanding the 5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; together with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll named to ‘Lt. Col. Francis Holden Shuttleworth Rendall, D.S.O. Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Commdg. 5th York & Lancaster.) mounted in a glazed frame, nearly extremely fine (2) £800-£1,200

D.S.O. London Gazette 16 January 1916.

Francis Holden Shuttleworth Rendall was born in 1879, and was educated at Eton. Originally commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions, South Staffordshire Regiment on 23 February 1898, he was promoted Lieutenant with the 4th Battalion before he transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, Regular Army, on 20 May 1899, reverting in rank to Second Lieutenant. He served with the 2nd Battalion, D.C.L.I. and the 2nd Battalion, Mounted Infantry in South Africa during the Boer War, including operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including Paardeberg (17 to 26 February) and actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); and operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including actions at Wittebergen. He regained the rank of Lieutenant on 7 June 1900 and was reported missing in action after the Battle of Nooitgedacht on 13 December 1900, rejoining his unit ten days later. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 10 September 1901 and 25 April 1902) and received the Queen’s Medal with 6 clasps and the King’s Medal with 2 clasps.

Rendall was advanced Captain on 6 August 1904 and appointed Adjutant of the 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), Territorial Force, on 30 September 1911, arriving in France with them on 14 April 1915. He obtained his Majority on 1 September 1915 and the following month was advanced to Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, taking command of the 5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. For his services he was awarded the D.S.O.

On 6 July 1916, near Thiepval, during the Battle of the Somme, Rendall led two bombing parties from his Battalion, totalling seven officers and 80 other ranks, to capture a trench; of these only 22 other ranks returned, Rendall being left behind wounded in a German dugout. He died three days later on 9 July 1916 and is buried in Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.