Major Donald Frederick Rennie

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Links Ranks Images Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

Donald Frederick Rennie (1916–1980) attended Huntingdon High School, received the Lord Atholstone scholarship, and attended McGill University, where his officer-training record lists Economics and Political Science; service records also record a B.A. He worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as an accountant before active service. After earlier service with the McGill University C.O.T.C. and Black Watch reserve battalions, he entered the Canadian Army Active Force in December 1942. He served in Canada, was appointed Captain in September 1945 with seniority from January 1944, and was released to reserve status in February 1946. Although he volunteered for European service, severe myopia prevented overseas employment. He continued with the Black Watch reserve after the war and was promoted to Major effective 1 November 1952.

General Information

Conflict:

WW2

Regimental No.:

Cause of Death (in war):

Survived

Branch:

Army

Regiment:

Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

Battalion:

3rd Battalion

Company:

Date of Birth :

Place of Birth:

Huntingdon, Quebec

Date of Enlistment:

Age at Enlistment:

26 years 2 months

Date of Discharge:

Age at Discharge:

29 years 4 months

Date of Death:

Age at Death:

63 years 7 months

Country Born:

Canada

Trade or Calling:

Accountant

Next of Kin:

Mrs. Marjorie Rennie (Belaya), wife, 1490 Fort St., Apt. 29, Montreal, Quebec

Address at Enlistment:

1490 Fort St., Apt 308, Montreal, Quebec

Religion:

United Church of Canada

Place of Enlistment:

Montreal, Quebec

Was a Prisoner of War:

Height:

5 ft 4.5 in / 164 cm

Weight:

140 lbs / 64 kg

Chest:

35.0 in / 89 cm

Expansion:

4.0 in / 10 cm

Marital Status:

Married

Prior Military Experience:

Yes

Saw Service in:

Canada

Place of Discharge:

Montreal South, Quebec

Discharge Type:

Regular/End of Service

Discharge Notes:

Battle Died/Wounded:

Length of Service:

1167 days in service

Buried at:

Links

Ancestry.com

Images

Lieutenant Donald Frederick Rennie

Ranks

Conflict	Rank	Regiment	Branch	Unit
WW2	Major	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada	Army	3rd Battalion
Authority confirms promotion from Captain to Major effective 1 Nov 1952; 1953 correspondence explains the unit-strength/vacancy error that delayed publication/administration.
WW2	Captain	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada	Army	Reserve / Quartermaster
Postwar reserve service retained as context
WW2	Captain	Canadian Army Active Force	Army	No. 4 District Depot
Substantive Captain appointment recorded 16 Sep 1945, seniority 6 Jan 1944; discharge certificate and repeated records identify rank as Captain.
WW2	Acting Captain	Canadian Army Active Force	Army	No. 4 District Depot / A & T Staff
Acting Captain from 6 Jan 1944; p.61 records appointment to Captain on 16 Sep 1945 with seniority from 6 Jan 1944.
WW2	Lieutenant	Canadian Army Active Force	Army	No. 4 District Depot / A-12 Training Centre
Active-force commissioned service
WW2	Lieutenant	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada	Army	4th Battalion (Reserve)
Reserve service before active-force appointment
WW2	Lieutenant	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada	Army	2nd Battalion (Reserve)
Reserve service
WW2	Second Lieutenant	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada	Army	2nd Battalion (Reserve)
Reserve service

Awards

Conflict	Award	Action	Date of Award	Date of Citation	Source
WW2	Canadian Forces Decoration
WW2	Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
WW2	War Medal 1939-1945

Service Chronology

1916-09-29 — Born at Huntingdon, Quebec.
1940-05-23 — Attested in the McGill Contingent, Canadian Officers' Training Corps. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / McGill Contingent C.O.T.C.
1941-12-18 — Appointed Second Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-02-21 — Promoted Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-05-08 — Transferred to 4th Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-12-03 — Appointed Lieutenant in the Canadian Army Active Force; officer's declaration completed. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1943-02-02 to 1943-02-10 — Admitted for operation for a corn on the left foot; proceeded on hospital leave on 10 February. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / Canadian Army medical service.
1943-04-16 — Confirmed in rank of Lieutenant, Infantry (Reserve); attached for training at A-12 Training Centre. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec / A-12 Training Centre.
1943-05-05 — Medically boarded, re-categorized A, and granted seven days leave. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec / A-12 Training Centre.
1943-08-05 — Reported with defective vision; refraction recorded uncorrected vision 20/200 in each eye, corrected to 20/20 with -4.00 spherical lenses. Place / Unit: St. Johns, Quebec / C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48.
1943-09-22 — Attached from A-12 Training Centre to C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48 for all purposes. Place / Unit: St. Johns, Quebec / C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48.
1943-12-01 — Posted to No. 4 District Depot for duty on A & T staff. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1943-12-07 — Reported for refraction and issue of Army glasses. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1944-01-06 — Appointed Acting Captain while employed on A & T staff. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1944-12-22 — Granted five days Christmas leave. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1945-07-09 — Proceeded to Farnham Summer Camp. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec.
1945-07-23 — Returned to local headquarters from Farnham Summer Camp. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec.
1945-09-16 — Appointed Captain, with seniority from 6 January 1944. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1946-01-22 — Release processing and classification recorded. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1946-02-06 — Administrative service records show him struck off strength / returned to reserve status on 6 February 1946. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1946-02-12 — Release became effective; Certificate of Service records him struck off strength on 12 February 1946 and returned to reserve status. Place / Unit: Montreal South, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1980-04-30 — Died suddenly at Montreal General Hospital. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec.
Pre-war — Attended Huntingdon High School; received the Lord Atholstone scholarship; later graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science. Place / Unit: Huntingdon, Quebec / McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
Pre-war — Worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as an accountant before active service. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / Canadian Pacific Railway.
Wartime — Volunteered for European service but was not permitted overseas because of severe myopia; uncorrected vision recorded about 20/200. Place / Unit: Canada / Canadian Army.

1916-09-29 — Born at Huntingdon, Quebec.
1940-05 — Began service with McGill University C.O.T.C.; later served as C.Q.M.S. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / McGill University C.O.T.C..
1941-12-18 — Appointed Second Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-02-21 — Promoted Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-05-08 — Transferred to 4th Battalion (Reserve), Black Watch (RHR) of Canada.
1942-12-03 — Appointed Lieutenant in the Canadian Army Active Force; officer's declaration completed. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1943-04-16 — Confirmed in rank of Lieutenant, Infantry (Reserve); attached for training at A-12 Training Centre. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec / A-12 Training Centre.
1943-05-05 — Medically boarded, re-categorized A, and granted seven days leave. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec / A-12 Training Centre.
1943-08-05 — Examined for defective vision; corrective lenses prescribed. Place / Unit: St. Johns, Quebec / C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48.
1943-09-22 — Attached from A-12 Training Centre to C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48 for all purposes. Place / Unit: St. Johns, Quebec / C.A.(B)T.C. No. 48.
1943-12-01 — Posted to No. 4 District Depot for duty on A & T staff. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1944-01-06 — Appointed Acting Captain while employed on A & T staff. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1944-12-22 — Granted five days Christmas leave. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1945-07-09 — Proceeded to Farnham Summer Camp. Place / Unit: Farnham, Quebec.
1945-07-23 — Returned to local headquarters from Farnham Summer Camp. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec.
1946-01-22 — Release processing and classification recorded. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1946-02-12 — Struck off strength of the Canadian Army Active Force and returned to Reserve status. Place / Unit: Montreal South, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1980-04-30 — Died suddenly at Montreal General Hospital. Place / Unit: Montreal, Quebec.

Notes

Rennie attended Huntingdon High School and received the Lord Atholstone scholarship. His officer-training record states that he attended McGill University and studied Economics and Political Science; other service records record a B.A. and attendance at McGill from 1934 to 1938. Before active service he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as an accountant, including at Windsor Station. His residence at enlistment was 1490 Fort St., Apt. 308, Montreal. He wore glasses; the file records severe myopia (uncorrected vision approximately 20/200) and that he was not partial to the Army-issued spectacles. He enjoyed playing rugby. He was the youngest of three children. Wartime ophthalmic evidence records uncorrected vision of 20/200 in each eye, corrected to 20/20 with -4.00 spherical lenses. On 7 December 1943 he reported for refraction/issue of Army glasses. His McGill Contingent C.O.T.C. attestation is dated 23 May 1940 and gives his permanent address as 19 Boult St., Huntingdon, Quebec, with father Frederick M. Rennie as next of kin.

Additional Service Notes

Served in Canada with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and in training, district and administrative appointments. He volunteered for European service, but myopia with uncorrected vision of approximately 20/200 prevented overseas employment. His discharge certificate and repeated later service-file records identify his rank as Captain. After the war he continued with the Black Watch reserve and was promoted to Major effective 1 November 1952. Release documentation contains both 6 and 12 February 1946: the proceedings form and service statements use 6 February for the administrative SOS action, while the proceedings form gives 12 February as the effective release date and the Certificate of Service records 12 February as the SOS date. He was appointed Captain on 16 September 1945 with seniority from 6 January 1944; his discharge certificate and other records consequently identify him as Captain.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Wife: Mrs. Marjorie Rennie (Belyea), 1490 Fort St., Apt. 29, Montreal, Quebec; family form dated 3 Dec 1942 records no children and that he regularly supported his wife. Father: Frederick Malcolm Rennie, farmer, Huntingdon, Quebec. Mother: Mrs. Maria Flood Rennie, Huntingdon, Quebec. Neither parent was financially supported by him on the family form. He reported no other dependants. He was insured with Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. and had arranged payment of the insurance premium. Other personnel/biographical material records Donald as the youngest of three children. The supplied obituary identifies his mother as Maria F. C. Macintosh.

Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-25 15:24:12 by: marc