Sergeant John Rennie Eccles
3586 & 201113 1/5th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment
John, who was known (and always referred to himself) as “Rennie”, was born in 1897 in Birmingham son of Fred Eccles, a grocer and Edith Fanny (nee Keef). In 1911 the family was living at Laverick Road, Jacksdale but by December 1914, when Rennie attested they were living at Main Road, Jacksdale. He had a sister named Gladys Edith and a brother named Leslie Broughton Eccles.
Rennie joined the Notts & Derby Territorials on 30th December 1914, enlisting at Derby. He was aged 19 years and 6 months, 5’7″ tall and of slender build. He served at home in the UK until September 1916 and was promoted to paid Lance Corporal, Acting Corporal and later Lance Sergeant. On 22nd September he embarked for France but reverted to a Private due to the posting. Whilst in France he was made up to unpaid Lance Corporal but, just 3 months later, on 14th Dec 1916 he received a gunshot wound to the thigh. He returned to the UK and was discharged from the Army 3 months later in March 1917. He was awarded Silver War Badge number 174919 (and the King’s Certificate) as well as the British War and Victory Medals.
He died in Barnsley, Yorkshire 1925 aged only 28.