Renner, James Davie

3395 Corporal James Davie Renner - 4th Australian Division Signal Company AIF

James Davis Renner was born in Mullewa WA on the 12th December 1895 to Frederick August and Mary Agnes Renner. He had five siblings, Elizabeth (1890), Frederick (1892), Robert (1893), Ernest (1898) and Jack (1903).

James had his early years in Albany and was educated there. His father was a station master and worked in Bunbury for a few years before relocating to Perth in 1912. The family then moved up to Fremantle and then Cottesloe Beach (Mosman Park). Sadly James's father died at home at Cottesloe Beach in 1913.

James had been with his family in Bunbury and had attended the cadets while there and won a local boxing championship.

After moving to Cottesloe Beach, James secured employment with the Fire Department in Fremantle. James was living in the Firehouse in Fremantle. He was also a qualified Motor mechanic so was also able to work on the Fire Department vehicles.

On the 24th July 1915 James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Jim's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 161lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown;

Distinctive Marks - Tattoo of J.R. on left forearm;

After his successful enlistment Jim was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to the Depot Training Company where he was taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 29th September 1915 Jim was transferred into the 11th Reinforcements to the 12th Battalion AIF.

He trained with this group in WA until the 1st November 1915 when they went to Fremantle Harbour and boarded the transport ship HMAT Benalla. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving at Alexandria at the end of the month.

Jim and his group would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli. However plans were now in place for Gallipoli to be evacuated, so in the meantime, Jim and his group were sent into the 3rd Brigade Training Battalion.

The 12th Battalion returned to Egypt from Gallipoli in January 1916, and were soon brought back to full strength with the addition of reinforcements. However Jim was not one of these and he remained in the 3rd Training Battalion till the end of February 1916.

 On the 3rd March 1916 James was allotted into a newly forming unit called the 52nd Battalion. This Battalion was part of the 4th Division AIF. James only had two weeks with this unit as on the 18th March 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Australian Division Signal Company. This unit would ensure communications between the front line units and Headquarters.

While in Egypt, James met up with other firemen from WA who had enlisted and they all had their photo taken. The photo was then sent back home and published in the Western Mail on the 4th August 1916. James is on the right in the back row.

On the 2nd June 1916, the 4th Division Signal Company left Alexandria Egypt and proceeded to France, disembarking at Marseilles on the 8th June 1916.

The men were then entrained north to the Armentieres region where they had a month, becoming accustomed to the Western Front. In mid July 1916 the 4th Division were then sent south to the Somme region. In late July 1916 the 4th Division went into the line, firstly in reserve positions and then took over the Australian front in August.

James originally had the rank of Sapper but when they were at Pozieres on July 29th he was promoted to Corporal. He survived the actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in August and September 1916 unscathed.

James served through 1917 with the 4th Division Signal Company, serving at Battles, such as Bullecourt, in April 1917, Messines in June 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres in September and October 1917.

In March 1918 James was given a two week furlough to England. While there he fell ill and was admitted to hospital. He was diagnosed with venereal disease and was then transferred to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford.

He recovered quickly and by May 1918 he was ready to return to France. On the 24th May Jim was sent to the Engineers Training Depot where he had a week and on the 1st June 1918 he returned to France. He was taken back on strength of the 4th Division Signal Company on the 6th June 1918.

For the next two months he served with his unit on the Villers-Bretonneux front and was also at the Hamel action on July 4th 1918, being one of the signallers, and ensuring that communications ran smoothly.

From August 8th to September 18th 1918, Jim was kept busy with the advance which had broken through the German lines. On September 19th the 4th Division was relieved from front line duties and was given a well deserved rest. The 4th Division was still out of the line when the Armistice was signed.

After the German surrender, the Australian units went into garrison what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium.

On December 26th 1918 Jim was granted a fortnights leave to Paris so he was able to have New Years Eve there, before returning to his unit on the 9th January 1919.

On the 31st March 1919 Jim returned to England and was sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott to await being assigned a berth on a troopship home.

On the 4th June 1919 Jim boarded the troopship Bremen and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 16th July 1919.

Jim was discharged from the AIF on the 7th September 1919.

He then returned home and was living at 119 Ocean Road Cottesloe Beach. He also found employment as a Motor Driver.

In 1927 in Fremantle James married Mary Phyllis Field and they lived at Yeovil Crescent Bicton. They lived here for the rest of their lives.

A 1937 article in trove has James Renner making Eclipse Bicycles at Canning Road Bicton which seems to have been a popular local brand among the cycling community.

On the 23rd July 1973 James died in Bicton aged 77. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery