George Alexander Renny
Lieutenant, Bengal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 1039 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Bengal Horse Artillery all Bengal Horse Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- the 12th of April 1859 all of 1859 →
- Born
- the 12th May 1825 at Riga, Russia
- Died
- 5th January 1887 at Bath, Somerset
- Memorial / grave
- at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath
Digest of citation
On 16th September 1857 an attack was made, in the morning, on the Delhi Magazine, by the enemy. The attack was maintained for some time without the slightest chance of success. Under cover of continuous crossfire, the rebels advanced to the high wall of the Magazine and attempted to set alight the thatched roof. The thatch, which partially caught by fire, was extinguished by a Sepoy, a previous attempt by a soldier of the 61st Regiment having failed. When the roof was set on fire again, Lieutenant Renny, with great gallantry, reached the top of the wall of the Magazine, from where he flung many shells , with fuses lit, amongst the attacking force. The effect on the assault was immediate, it becoming weaker and eventually ceasing altogether at this point
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RENNY, George Alexander. (reg No. 1039).
Lieutenant. Bengal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on the 12th of April 1859.
Born on the 12th May 1825 at Riga, Russia.
Died on 5th January 1887 at Bath, Somerset.
Memorial on grave at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath.
Digest of Citation reads: On 16th September 1857 an attack was made, in the morning, on the Delhi Magazine, by the enemy. The attack was maintained for some time without the slightest chance of success. Under cover of continuous crossfire, the rebels advanced to the high wall of the Magazine and attempted to set alight the thatched roof. The thatch, which partially caught by fire, was extinguished by a Sepoy, a previous attempt by a soldier of the 61st Regiment having failed. When the roof was set on fire again, Lieutenant Renny, with great gallantry, reached the top of the wall of the Magazine, from where he flung many shells , with fuses lit, amongst the attacking force. The effect on the assault was immediate, it becoming weaker and eventually ceasing altogether at this point.
Additional information:. Major-General Rennie was educated at Addiscombe. He joined the Bengal Horse Artillery. He was promoted Lieutenant on 6th October 1846. He served at the Battle of Sobraen and throughout the Indian Mutiny between 1857-58. He was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Indian Mutiny Medal and Clasps.
Additional information
Major-General Rennie was educated at Addiscombe. He joined the Bengal Horse Artillery. He was promoted Lieutenant on 6th October 1846. He served at the Battle of Sobraen and throughout the Indian Mutiny between 1857-58. He was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Indian Mutiny Medal and Clasps.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath
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