William Henry RENSHALL
William Henry (Harry) Renshall was born in 1912 at Houghton Street, Prescot. The family later moved to 41 South Avenue, Prescot. Harry's parents were Thomas & Ann and he was the second eldest of eight children. After marrying Alice they lived in Chatsworth Road which is where they were living when he was called up while serving in the Territorial Army. Harry had previously served in the Prescot Yeomanry.
Harry was in the Royal Signals Regiment (No. 407038) and was an expert in morse code. He never spoke much about his war service and if he did it was to make light of it. While retreating to Dunkirk he was hit by a bullet in the wrist and had to be treated at a Medical Station. Unfortunately his comrades moved on whilst this was happening and he lost contact with them. Consequently he was reported missing but somehow managed to get to Dunkirk where he was lucky enough to get on to one of the army of ships waiting to take them back to England.
Harry joined up with another outfit and made his way to Dunkirk. However just before boarding the ship that was to repatriate him, he was called away for some reason and told he was needed further down the coast. When arriving back at Dunkirk he learned that the ship he should have been going on was bombed with many lives lost!
After the war ended he again joined the Territorials and was with them for several years. Harry and Alice were married for over sixty years and as well as me had two sons Brian and Colin. They never left Chatsworth Road
Harry died on 18th December 2007.
Information and image courtesy of Brian Renshall
Harry was in the Royal Signals Regiment (No. 407038) and was an expert in morse code. He never spoke much about his war service and if he did it was to make light of it. While retreating to Dunkirk he was hit by a bullet in the wrist and had to be treated at a Medical Station. Unfortunately his comrades moved on whilst this was happening and he lost contact with them. Consequently he was reported missing but somehow managed to get to Dunkirk where he was lucky enough to get on to one of the army of ships waiting to take them back to England.
Harry joined up with another outfit and made his way to Dunkirk. However just before boarding the ship that was to repatriate him, he was called away for some reason and told he was needed further down the coast. When arriving back at Dunkirk he learned that the ship he should have been going on was bombed with many lives lost!
After the war ended he again joined the Territorials and was with them for several years. Harry and Alice were married for over sixty years and as well as me had two sons Brian and Colin. They never left Chatsworth Road
Harry died on 18th December 2007.
Information and image courtesy of Brian Renshall
Harry and Alice Renshall