Leading Aircraftman Raymond Hamilton Rennie

Raymond Hamilton Rennie was born at Rockburn, Quebec, on 4 June 1922, the son of Ernest Rennie and Mary Ann Hamilton. His father was a painter, and his mother had been born in Liverpool, England. He attended Rockburn Public School and later reported high-school attendance at Huntingdon. Before enlistment he worked as his father's painter's helper, as a farm hand for Roderick Arthur and as a garage helper and driver at Kyle's garage in Huntingdon. His interests included ball games, baseball, badminton and hunting. Rennie enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 28 August 1941, service number R127383, as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in General Duties. After No. 1 Manning Depot at Toronto, he served at No. 14 Service Flying Training School, Aylmer. He became Aircraftman 1st Class in November 1941 and Leading Aircraftman in February 1942. Keen to fly, he was selected for air-gunner training in June 1942 and posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School at Fingal in July. His training ceased after he failed the initial stage of the course. Following reselection at Trenton, he returned to ground duties and went to No. 5 Initial Training School at Belleville. He became a canteen steward in January 1943 and qualified in Group B in July. Further applications for aircrew did not lead to a completed aircrew qualification. He served at No. 16 Service Flying Training School, Hagersville, from August 1943 until April 1945, then at Moncton and No. 4 Repatriation Depot at Scoudouc. He remained at RCAF Station Scoudouc before release processing at Lachine. All his military service was in Canada. Rennie was honourably released as a Leading Aircraftman on 20 September 1945 after completing his voluntary wartime service and transferred to the RCAF Reserve, Class E. He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, War Medal 1939–45 and General Service War Service Badge 229466. His war-service gratuity was $367.50, based on 1,485 qualifying days. At discharge he planned to join his father in a painting partnership at Franklin Centre. He died on 27 April 1990.

1922-06-04 — Born at Rockburn, Quebec, son of Ernest Rennie and Mary Ann Hamilton
1928 to 1935 — Attended Rockburn Public School; Rockburn, Quebec.
1935 to 1938 — Worked as painter's helper for father Ernest Rennie; Franklin Centre, Quebec.
1938 to 1939 — Worked as farm hand for Roderick Arthur; reference address Athelstan; Athelstan, Quebec.
1939 to 1940 — Reported unemployment in application work history; later aircrew application reported Huntingdon high-school attendance during same years; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1940 to 1941 — Garage helper/mechanic's helper and driver for Kyle's garage; last employment before enlistment; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1941-07-25 — W. G. Gibson, Justice of the Peace, recommended him as a young man of good character and noted progress as a motor mechanic; Rockburn, Quebec.
1941-07-28 — Applied for General Duties ground service; interview found suitable; medical examination temporarily unfit pending tonsil treatment. Height 67 inches, weight 126 pounds, relaxed chest 31.5 inches, expansion 2.5; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-08-27 — Throat assessed satisfactory following apparent tonsil/adenoid treatment; found fit category A4B; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-08-28 — Enlisted in RCAF Special Reserve through No. 13 Recruiting Centre, Montreal, R127383, as Aircraftman 2nd Class, General Duties; single, father Ernest next of kin at Franklin Centre; no prior military service; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-08-28 to 1941-08-29 — Posted to No. 1 Manning Depot; arranged CNR journey from Bonaventure Station at 2359 on 28 August, arriving Toronto next morning; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-08-30 — General Duties test recorded; occupational history named garage work and ambition to become an air mechanic; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-09-02 — Dental examination found fair oral hygiene; prophylaxis and treatment required; No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario.
1941-09-03 — Identification card, uniformed portrait and fingerprints recorded; age 19, weight 132 pounds; No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario.
1941-09-05 to 1941-09-06 — Transferred from No. 1 Manning Depot to No. 14 Service Flying Training School; receiving strength date 6 September; Aylmer, Ontario.
1941-09-20 — Chest X-ray negative; Aylmer, Ontario.
1941-11-28 — Promoted Aircraftman 1st Class; T.A.B.T. inoculation recorded; Aylmer, Ontario.
1942-02-28 — Leading Aircraftman effective in summary rank history; contemporary 19 March occupational form confirms LAC; Aylmer, Ontario.
1942-03 to 1942-05 — Fourteen days' annual leave recorded; summary gives 1–14 March, movement ledger gives 1–14 May; Aylmer, Ontario.
1942-03-19 — Occupational history recorded garage-helper work and interest in joining R.C.M.P.; Aylmer, Ontario.
1942-06 to 1942-08 — Annual-leave entries give 29 June–12 July in summary and 29 July–12 August in movement ledger; duration recorded as 14 days; Aylmer / Fingal, Ontario.
1942-06-09 to 1942-06-17 — Aircrew medical board and recheck found fit A1B/A3B; height 67 inches, weight 135 pounds, chest 34.5–36.5; interview recommended air-gunner training, citing hunting/rifle experience and keenness to fly; Aylmer, Ontario; London, Ontario.
1942-06-25 — Approved for training as air gunner; Aylmer, Ontario.
1942-07-18 to 1942-07-19 — Remustered under training as air gunner and posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School; formal receiving date 19 July; Fingal, Ontario.
1942-07-27 — Dental restorations recorded; Fingal, Ontario.
1942-08-31 — Air-gunner Course 36B discontinued for failure of instruction; Stage I 439/1050 (41.8%), 26th of 27; failed six of eight subjects. Medical recheck found fit; recommended return to General Duties; Fingal, Ontario.
1942-09-01 — School report did not recommend further gunnery-instructor training; Fingal, Ontario.
1942-09-01 to 1942-09-15 — Training-cessation leave recorded as 14 days; Fingal / Trenton, Ontario.
1942-09-14 to 1942-09-15 — Posted to Composite Training School, Aircrew Squadron, for reselection; reporting date 15 September; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-09-22 — Reselection board directed ground service and remustering to General Duties after air-gunner course failure; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-09-30 to 1942-10-01 — Transferred to No. 5 Initial Training School; taken on strength 1 October; Belleville, Ontario.
1942-10-19 — Canteen Steward Group C test recorded failure at 41%; Belleville, Ontario.
1942-12-30 to 1943-01-05 — New Year leave recorded; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-01-08 to 1943-01-13 — Five days' special leave recorded; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-01-25 — Remustered Canteen Steward, Group C; test entry gives 98%; Acting Corporal entry was cancelled; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-02-01 to 1943-02-11 — Dental extraction and restorations recorded; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-04-30 to 1943-05-07 — Seven days' annual leave with ration allowance; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-05-12 to 1943-06-03 — Applied again for aircrew; medical assessment found fit, canteen supervisor recommended him, but education officer and commanding officer did not recommend further aircrew training; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-07-01 — Qualified Canteen Steward, Group B, test mark 81%; Belleville, Ontario.
1943-08-03 to 1943-08-04 — Transferred from No. 5 Initial Training School to No. 1 Manning Depot; receiving strength date 4 August; Toronto, Ontario.
1943-08-12 to 1943-08-14 — Further aircrew interview and questionnaire; combined score 44/100. Trade corrected back to Canteen Steward Group B on 14 August; Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-08-24 to 1943-08-25 — Transferred to No. 16 Service Flying Training School; receiving strength date 25 August; Hagersville, Ontario.
1943-09-23 to 1943-09-29 — Seven days' annual leave supported by travel warrants and ration-allowance quit-claim; summary entry has cancellation annotation; Hagersville, Ontario.
1943-10-18 — Subscribed for $50 Fifth Victory Loan bond, six monthly $8.40 deductions; delivery to Mrs. Ernest Rennie, R.R. 2 Franklin Centre; Hagersville, Ontario.
1943-12-30 to 1944-01-05 — New Year leave recorded with ration allowance; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-01-15 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal ribbon recorded; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-02-25 — Declared medically fit for potential aircrew; no completed aircrew qualification established; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-04-24 — Subscribed for $50 Sixth Victory Loan bond, with monthly pay deductions and delivery to Mrs. Ernest Rennie; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-06-16 to 1944-06-29 — Annual leave recorded; detailed ration allowance specifies 14 days, summary dates/duration differ; aircrew medical recheck at No. 9 Recruiting Centre on 17 June; Hagersville / London, Ontario.
1944-07-20 — Reported left-sided sternal pain, diagnosis apparently costal myalgia; one-week disposition recorded; No. 16 Service Flying Training School, Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-09-30 to 1944-10-12 — Dental treatment followed by extraction of three posterior teeth on 9 October and washing sockets on 12 October; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-10-23 — Subscribed for $50 Seventh Victory Loan bond, monthly deductions November1944–April1945; delivery to mother Mary Rennie; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-12-12 — Dental restorations to upper central incisors recorded; Hagersville, Ontario.
1944-12-30 to 1945-01-03 — Five days' New Year leave recorded; Hagersville, Ontario.
1945-01 to 1945-03 — Medical entries described fit for overseas service; no overseas departure followed; Hagersville, Ontario.
1945-04-03 to 1945-04-04 — Transferred from No. 16 Service Flying Training School to RCAF Moncton; taken on strength 4 April; Moncton, New Brunswick.
1945-04-09 — Signed embarkation statement while at Moncton; parents Ernest and Mary Ann at R.R. 2 Franklin Centre; religion now recorded Roman Catholic. Paperwork does not establish overseas embarkation; Moncton, New Brunswick.
1945-04-12 to 1945-04-13 — Transferred to No. 4 R.D.; summary calls it Release Depot, London, while later individual records identify Repatriation Depot at Scoudouc; London, Ontario / Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-06-05 — Seventh Victory Loan bond forwarded by registered mail to Mary Rennie at Franklin Centre; notice value $50.40; Franklin Centre, Quebec.
1945-06-08 — No. 4 Repatriation Depot at Scoudouc issued permission for United States leave travel; address 132 Mason Street, Chateaugay, New York; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-06-11 to 1945-06-27 — Annual leave and travelling time recorded; United States permit valid 11–25 June, application initially 11–23 June; Canadian leave address c/o Mrs. J. M. Hunter, Box 137, Huntingdon; Chateaugay, New York, United States; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1945-07-12 — Annual non-flying medical examination at No. 4 R.D., Scoudouc, found no complaints or significant findings; height 67 inches and weight 136 pounds, category A4B; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-07-14 to 1945-07-15 — Administrative transfer from No. 4 R.D. to RCAF Station Scoudouc recorded; he was already located at Scoudouc in earlier records; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-08-10 — Lost identification discs at RCAF Station Scoudouc, as declared at release on 20 September; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-08-17 — Eastern Air Command authorized release at completion of emergency voluntary service; no Pacific volunteering inferred from generic instructions; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-08-20 — Discharge counselling: no physical limitations; planned painting partnership with father Ernest and residence at Franklin Centre; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-08-22 to 1945-09-13 — Granted 23 days' special leave; summary ends 14 September, detailed inclusive allowance ends 13 September; Scoudouc, New Brunswick.
1945-09-14 to 1945-09-15 — Transferred to No. 2 Release Centre at Lachine; receiving date 15 September, reporting date 17 September; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-09-15 to 1945-09-18 — Release medical board: no complaints, category A4B, fit for any employment; chest X-ray 17 September negative; height 67 inches, weight 135 pounds. Dental release assessment 18 September required further treatment; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-09-19 — Final counselling and Unemployment Insurance interview; declined additional rehabilitation information, referred to Veterans Affairs in Montreal; intended painting work and Rockburn residence; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-09-20 — Honourably released as Leading Aircraftman, Canteen Steward Group B, under K.R.(Air)195(17), completion of emergency voluntary service; transferred to Reserve General Section Class E; acknowledged badge 229466 and discharge documents; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-10-24 to 1945-10-26 — Treasury confirmed no dependants' allowance in issue and no deductible overpayment; RCAF returned original will and baptism certificate and notified Veterans Affairs of release; Ottawa, Ontario; Franklin Centre, Quebec.
1945-10-29 — War-service gratuity calculated as $367.50 for 1,485 qualifying days, 49 complete 30-day periods; four stated $91.87 monthly instalments; no overseas service; Franklin Centre, Quebec.
1959-05-14 — Medal-issued register stamped 14 May 1959; address Roosevelt Street, Huntingdon; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1959-08-12 — RCAF verified entitlement to Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal1939–45
1990-04-27 — Died; existing CWVMP notes give Santa Clara, without country or cemetery details