Getting to know the life of Benonian George Rennie
Lieut-Col George Rennie was born in Banffshire, Scotland on August 2, 1879, and came to South Africa in 1899 where he served in the SA War (1899 to 1902).
After the war, he joined the Transvaal railway system as a clerk and then joined the New Kleinfontein Gold Mine.
Ten years later in 1912, he left the mines and opened the George Rennie & Co estate agency.
This building was situated at number 49 Prince’s Avenue.
Rennie was elected to the Benoni Town Council on October 26, 1910, and held this office for six years.
When World War One broke out, he volunteered to go on active service with his regiment – The Imperial Light Horse.
At that time he was elected mayor from 1913 to 1914 so left his business for Morris Nestadt, the new “office boy” to run.
He retired from the army in 1929, but re-enlisted when World War Two broke out and was commissioned officer, commanding the Italian prisoner-of-war camp in Pretoria.
Rennie was elected mayor for three terms, the last one being between 1924 to 1925 when the prince of Wales paid Benoni a visit.
After a lengthy illness, Rennie died at his home at Woburn Avenue.
He was accorded a full military funeral which was held at the Benoni Presbyterian Church.
He is buried at the Benoni Cemetery.
Also read:
Farmers’ Supply closes its doors after 104 years
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