Thomas Edward Rendle Explained

Thomas Edward Rendle
Birth Date:14 December 1884
Death Date:1 June 1946 (aged 61)
Birth Place:Bedminster, Bristol, England
Death Place:Cape Town, South Africa
Placeofburial:Maitland Road No 1 Cemetery, Cape Town
Allegiance: United Kingdom
Serviceyears:1902-20
Rank:Sergeant
Unit:Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Battles:World War I
Awards:Victoria Cross
Order of St. George 4th Class (Russia)

Sergeant Thomas Edward Rendle VC (14 December 1884  - 1 June 1946) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 29 years old, and a bandsman in the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 November 1914 near Wulverghem, Belgium, Bandsman Rendle attended to the wounded under very heavy rifle and shell fire and rescued men from the trenches in which they had been buried from the blowing in of the parapets by the fire of the enemy's heavy howitzers.

Later life

Rendle later achieved the rank of sergeant.

Rendle was a Freemason and was initiated into Needles Lodge No. 2838 on the Isle of Wight on 2 August 1916.[1]

After the war, he emigrated to South Africa where he became bandmaster of the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles.

The medal

His VC is displayed at the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Museum in Victoria Barracks, Bodmin, Cornwall.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Five freemasons from the province who won VCs.. Insight (The Journal of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasonry). November 2017. 14. 18–19.