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Im seeking information regarding my Great Uncle Jimmy, Gunner James Patrick Renton.
Hopefully I may find someone who served with him or even someone who knew any of the men in this picture.
1931 Jim Renton was aged 21 when he joined the Army and became a gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery.
He was a member of the battery football team and in 1934 he sailed aboard the HMT Lancashire for his posting to India. Having arrived in Karachi on the November of 1934 he was then based in the Peshwar Valley and also to the Khyber Pass ( now part of Pakistan)
He continued his service till 1937 when he returned to Britain and went to work for the GPO in Sunderland.
Upon his return to Sunderland it appears from his marriage certificate that he was living with his Brother John or sister Mary at 6 Hudson Road, Hendon Sunderland.
Jim was married to Rachel Reynolds of 18 Thomas Street, Sunderland on the 28th November 1938,
Witnesses to the marriage were Matthew Shinkfield (his sisters brother in law) and an Elizabeth Burns.
Jim was recalled to Army service just before the outbreak of World War 2 and was posted to the British Expeditionary Force, presently being mobilised for France and Belgium.
The RHA and Royal Artillery were involved in a large number of actions against the German offensive and fought a number of rearguard actions when the B.E.F began its retreat to the beaches at Dunkirk.
When he did make it home he arrived at his brother John’s address in Hudson Road, Hendon, Sunderland.
John Jnr (his young nephew) describes Jim’s arrival as a shocking one for the family.
He turned up at the front door in his underwear, a greatcoat and a pair of ammo boots that had gone green due to being immersed in seawater for so long, and was described as exhausted.
Jim remained with the family for about five days before receiving orders to be posted to a new unit 531 Coastal Regiment Royal artillery were reforming and re equipping.
His wife Rachel later joined him and took lodgings near the camp.
I beleive that this may have been in Grimsby ????
The family in Sunderland were alerted to Jims failing health by Rachel when she wrote to her brother in law John explaining that Jim was in Hospital. Jim died at Westlands, Grimsby on November 2nd 1940 from 4 listed problems according to his death certificate.
1. Cardiac failure due to
2. Pulmonary adema due to
3. Hypertension due to
4. Congenital cystic disease of the kidney
The death was certified by a T.H.A Dickenson, the Deputy Coroner for the Borough of Grimsby after post mortem.
Any help would be appreciated and if possible reciprocated
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