Regimental number | 1024 |
Date of birth | |
Place of birth | Deniliquin, New South Wales |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Overseer in canister trade |
Address | Hambledon Street, Hawthorn, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 28 |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Margaret Rentoul, Hambledon Street, Hawthorn, Victoria |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | Sergeant |
Unit name | 20th Battalion, A Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/37/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A35 Berrima on |
Regimental number from Nominal Roll | Commissioned |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Lieutenant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 20th Battalion |
Promotions |
2nd Lieutenant Unit: SIG Div2 Promotion date: Lieutenant Unit: SIG Div 2 Promotion date: |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Age at death from cemetery records | 22 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra. On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours. After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 26 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Commemorated on Kensington Methodist (now Uniting) Church Roll of Honour ('A Loving tribute to the Memory of Our Brave Men'), McCracken Street, Kensington, Victoria. Parents: Alexander and Margaret RENTOUL, 22 Poplar Street, Caulfield, Victoria |
Medals |
Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry when, in company with Lt. Larking and two sappers, he went to locate enemy telephone cables. Their movements were noticed, and heavy shell fire was directed on them. The two sappers were severely wounded. Lt. Rentoul, under heavy fire, procured stretchers and moved them over ground heavily swept by fire.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 176 Date: |
Family/military connections | Cousin: Staff Nurse May HENNESSY, Australian Army Nursing Service, returned to Australia, 22 February 1919 (d. 9 April 1919). |
Other details | Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |