The following is a story submitted by one of the OFH readers, Julie Clift nee Renton, about her family and is published with her kind permission:-
The Reynolds family was one of the early Pioneering families that arrived In the Goldfields in 1897 and today there are still descendants living here.
Francis Emma RENTON nee: REYNOLDS born on the 3rd Sept 1889 in Broken Hill, New South Wales to James Henry REYNOLDS and Mary Shaw HARVEY.
Thomas D Renton and his Mum Francis Emma Renton
When World War 2 was taking form, Frances Emma was residing at 120 Forrest street, Boulder, and was recently widowed when her husband (my grandfather) John Henry RENTON died suddenly on the 29th December 1939. They were married for 33 years, having married in Boulder on the 3rd April, 1907.
Francis Emma Renton was the proud mother of 12 Children, consisting of 6 girls and 6 boys. The older children were born in Brown Hill, with the younger ones being born in Boulder. Sadly, 4 of her daughters died. Francis Edith (1910-1911), Thelma Jean (1926-1933) and Twins Myrtle 1930 (Stillborn) – Nellie (1930 – 8th June 1930).
Come the April of 1940, her 6 sons began enlisting for Service for their country. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that would have been like for a mother, having just lost her husband just 4 months before. It must have been very hard for Nana but at the same time I could imagine she would have been so very proud of her sons.
Donald (Don) Leslie Renton b. 1916 Brown Hill d.1992 Kalgoorlie, WA. Australian Army Service Number: WX1981 Date of Enlistment: 7 Apr 1940 Locality on Enlistment: BOULDER, WA Place of Enlistment: KALGOORLIE, WA Next of Kin: RENTON, ESME Date of Discharge: 5 Jul 1945 Rank: Private Posting at Discharge: 2/32 Battalion
James (Jim) Henry George Renton b.1908 Brown Hill,WA d. 1958 Kalgoorlie, WA, Australian Army Service Number: WX20231 Date of Enlistment: 31 Dec 1941 Locality on Enlistment: BOULDER CITY, WA Place of Enlistment: CLAREMONT, WA Next of Kin: RENTON, ADELAIDE Date of Discharge: 9 Jun 1942 Rank: Private Posting at Discharge: Details Coy
William John (Johnnie) Renton b.1912 Boulder City, WA d.1968 Boulder, WA Australian Army Service Number: WX31259 Date of Enlistment: 4 Aug 1942 Locality on Enlistment: BOULDER, WA Place of Enlistment: CLAREMONT, WA Next of Kin: RENTON, ULA Date of Discharge: 11 Jan 1945 Rank: Private Posting at Discharge: 28 Battalion
Robert (Bob) Cecil Renton b.1914 Powlett River, Victoria d.2000 Fremantle, WA, Australian Army Service Number: W50425 , Date of Enlistment: 6 Feb 1942 Locality on Enlistment: BOULDER, WA Place of Enlistment: KALGOORLIE, WA , Next of Kin: RENTON, ELAINE Date of Discharge: 4 Feb 1946 Rank: Private Posting at Discharge: AUST STAGING CAMP KALGOORLIE
Post Card from Home
Thomas (Tom) Daniel Renton b.1920 Brown Hill, WA d. 1987 Perth, WA (Resided in Boulder) Australian Army Service Number:WX29283 ,Date of Enlistment: 8 Jul 1942 Locality on Enlistment: FREMANTLE, WA Place of Enlistment: DANDARAGAN, WA ,Next of Kin: RENTON, MARGARET Date of Discharge: 20 Dec 1945 Rank: Private ,Posting at Discharge: 30 A A C S (O R’S) CLUB
William (Bill) Harvey Renton b.1923 Boulder, WA, Australian Army Service Number: 51062 (WX12606) Date of Enlistment: 9 May 1941 Locality on Enlistment: BOULDER, WA , Place of Enlistment: CLAREMONT, WA Next of Kin: RENTON, FRANCIS EMMA, Date of Discharge: 28 Feb 1946 Rank: Private ,Posting at Discharge: 2/32 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION
Family members have told me that Nana used to have a shrine for all her sons in her lounge room consisting of a candle for each son and Australian Flags. Apparently, she kept the candles burning until each one was home safe.
Kalgoorlie Miner 8 Nov 1942
It was in November of 1943, that she received word that one of her sons, Donald Leslie, had been shot. Thank goodness he survived. Francis Emma kept herself busy while all the boys were away,in raising money for not only for her sons but for all the boys at War, there were no exception.
From – The Kalgoorlie Miner 22 April 1942
Euchre and Rummy – There will be euchre and rummy at the RSL Hall, Boulder, today. The proceeds are for the comforts for the fighting forces. Last week Mrs. Renton. Bought along hot pasties, which sold like the proverbial “hot cakes” and added a Further 10/ to the funds. To-day there will be pasties or sausage rolls to take home.For tea if you play too late to cook a meal.
Post Card from Egypt
From- The Kalgoorlie Miner 1 September 1943
R.S.L. Building for Boulder, The Boulder R.S.L. sub-branch have plans well in hand to raise funds for a building which will be worthy of the returned boys and Boulder City. Mrs. Rentons card circle will hold the monthly euchre and rummy party tonight to add to these funds.
WW2 Veteran Bill Renton
Nana’s pasties was and still are a family tradition, being handed down through the generations. The Reynolds family is of Cornish stock which dates back so far to 1620.
Uncle Bill (William Harvey Renton) is the oldest living WWII Veteran at the Fremantle R.S.L. He just celebrated his 93rd Birthday on the 31st Oct, 2016. His birth-date on enlistment is incorrect however, as what many did at that time, was to lie about their age to get in. You had to be 19 to enlist and Uncle Bill was only 17, but stated he was 21.
I’m pleased to say that all six brothers made it home alive and Nana was able to blow each candle out now that her sons were safe. Francis Emma Reynolds passed away at Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital on the 8th February 1950. She was definitely one of a kind, with her dedication to not only to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren but to the CWA, Boulder and Boulder Sub-branch of the R.S.L Ladies Auxiliary.
James Renton and Muriel Eaton
My Dad (Julie Renton) Thomas Daniel Renton passed away on Remembrance Day – The 11th Nov, 1988.
By
Margaret Joan RENTON, Baby Tommy Renton, Glenice Renton and Thomas Daniel Renton (The parents and siblings of the writer) By
Moya Sharp
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Thank you Julie for allowing Moya to share your family war story.
I live in England and strongly believe that I am closely related to the Renton family. My father was called Harvey Renton Daniel. I believe I used to call the person named as William Harvey Renton my uncle Billy from Australia. I would be very keen to found out any further information.
Hi Wayne I have a good friend who is a member of the Renton family and has done a considerable amount of research on them. Would you like me to send you her email address?
Hi Wayne I have passed on your email to my friend Julie about the Rentons and she will be in touch.
I am a FORSYTH living in Kalgoorlie and am interested in contacting anyone who might be able to Help with my Family-tree.
My Grandmother was a Ida FORSYTH (nee RENTON) that was born out in Brown Hill (Kalgoorlie-Boulder) in 1906, along with several other Family members. She was 1 of 2 Sisters that married 2 FORSYTH brothers.
If anyone is able to Help or point me in the right direction, I’d be most grateful. Cheers Tony
Hi Tony Have you been in touch with Julie Clift, no one knows more about the Rentons on the Goldfields than her?
No luck as yet. I have contacted (via Messenger and Facebook posts) several people with the name RENTON in Kalgoorlie/Boulder area, only to find out that they are recent Immigrants from Africa and not related to Julie or myself. I have tried sending a few direct requests to Julia but she hasn’t answered/recieved them.
Hi Tony I have sent Julie a message on your behalf.