Service Details
Name:
 RENOU
Given Name:
 PERCY WILLIAM
Initials:
 P W
Service No:
 189597V
Rank:
 Corporal
Other Casualties of this Rank
Regiment:
 South African Engineer Corps
Other Casualties from this Regiment
Unit:
 8 Field Sqdn.
Other Casualties from this Unit
Date of Death:
 1944-06-27
Other Casualties on this Date
Date of Birth:
 1911-06-07
Age:
 33
Cause of Death:
 Died of wounds. The South Africans managed to clear a way through the drab and narrow streets (of Chiusi), only to be held up beyond the outskirts by enemy fire. Once again the Germans were hitting back and the Sappers (Engineers) had to bear much of the brunt. Both L/Cpl. P. Kelly and Spr. H. H. Dittman were slightly wounded by mortar bombs, but with a section sent off to join an unsuccessful effort at a left hook, work continued after dark to open up a road to Acquaviva. On 27 June the squadron suffered a further loss when Spr. A. Blair was wounded by an "S" mine. Within five minutes, Spr. A. E. Meiring was killed by another and Cpl. P. W. Renou was mortally wounded in going to Meiring's assistance. No other South African Sapper units in the whole of Italy were so severely cut up by enemy action.
Decorations:
 Mentioned in Desptaches
Citations:
 LG Sup 30 December 1941 pg. 7365
Additional
Information:
Son of Ashley Albert Renou, of Taungs, Cape Province. Husband of Mrs. G. T. Renou. For years, Cpl Renou had longed to visit Assisi, some 60km almost due east of Chiusi, and on moving to Italy (from the north African desert campaign), he had written to his wife to tell her that at last his ambition might be realised. On the very eve of his death he had written home to say that he was on his way to Assisi, little knowing how true his words were to prove. To the amazement of his widow, years later, she was informed that because 13 graves at Chiusi were placed too close to the main road, 11 of them were being moved to the main War Cemetery at Castiglione (where many South Africans who were killed in Italy were buried) - but that those of Cpl. Renou and Spr. Meiring were being moved to Assisi, thus fulfilling a Sapper's ambition long after he had lost his life in trying to help a friend.
Commemoration
Country:
 Italy
Other Casualties commemorated in Italy
Cemetery:
 ASSISI WAR CEMETERY
Other Casualties commemorated in this Cemetery
Grave Reference:
 V, B, 6.

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