Frank Rennie later wrote in his autobiography that after spending so long bedridden believing he would be crippled, he felt compelled to "prove to myself that I could do anything most others could do", and viewed the Army as a way of achieving this.
17 Facts About Frank Rennie
1.
2.
Frank Rennie subsequently joined the Canterbury Regiment of the Territorial Force at age 16, before joining the New Zealand Army in late 1936.
3.
At the completion of the training course Frank Rennie was promoted to lance corporal, temporary sergeant.
4.
Frank Rennie took part in the seizure of the island the following month.
5.
Frank Rennie was posted to 23rd Battalion and commanded a Vickers MG platoon, seeing action in the river-crossing the 2nd Division conducted as it pushed northwards through Italy in the final months of the war in Europe.
6.
Frank Rennie's unit finished the war near Trieste, and was involved in the stand-off with Yugoslav Partisans.
7.
Frank Rennie served with Jayforce, New Zealand's contribution to the occupation of Japan, between March and August 1946 before returning to instructional positions including a posting to the British Army School of Infantry and two and a half years as Chief Instructor of the New Zealand School of Infantry.
8.
Frank Rennie was involved in establishing instructional and training standards, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
9.
In 1955, Frank Rennie was selected to form, train and command the New Zealand Special Air Service Squadron for service in the Malayan Emergency.
10.
Frank Rennie often participated directly in operations, and for his actions during this time he was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches.
11.
Frank Rennie returned to New Zealand to become Commandant of the Army Schools at Waiouru.
12.
Frank Rennie focused on fostering co-operation between the Fijian military and police, and on preparing the military to support the police in case of serious civil unrest, which threatened but did not eventuate during his tenure.
13.
Shortly after returning from Fiji, having been promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Frank Rennie retired from the Army in 1970 after 34 years of service.
14.
Frank Rennie became involved in youth leadership and was chairman of the Rothmans Sport Foundation and involved with the Outward Bound Trust including being president between 1981 and 1982.
15.
Frank Rennie continued to be involved with the NZSAS as Colonel Commandant.
16.
Frank Rennie was married three times, his first wife, Beatrice Plummer dying in the early 1950s, after which he married Colleen Patterson in 1955.
17.
Frank Rennie had three children: a son and a daughter with his first wife, and a son with his second.