Robert Coppin 'Bob' Renals
4 May 1893 — 29 September 1980
Bob Renals was born on 4 May 1893 at Fletchers Bridge, Bodmin, Cornwall. His father John was 34 and his mother Elizabeth was 29 at the time of his birth. Bob died on 29 September 1980 in Bodmin, Cornwall, at the age of 87 and is buried there.
Family
Bob married Charlotte Orchard on 4 June 1924 in Liskeard, Cornwall. They had two sons, Edwin John and Roy Frederick.
His brother John (Jack) Renals was born in 1894. On the same day that Bob married Charlotte, Jack married her sister Betsy Orchard — two brothers marrying two sisters on the same day.
Bob and Charlotte Renals with Jack and Betsy Renals — Joint Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, Tor View, Bodmin, 1974
The Military Medal
Awarded for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire."
The Military Medal was established in 1916 and awarded to personnel below commissioned rank for bravery in battle. Bob was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at El Foka, Palestine.
El Foka
From the service record researched and written by Edwin Renals.
At midday the intensity of the artillery and machine gun barrage increased considerably and it was becoming obvious that their position was untenable. Consideration had to be given to withdrawing.
With this in mind, immediate attention was concentrated on the machine gun post on Hill 1750 that the Turks had set up during the darkness — capable of enfilading the yeomen's escape route. They had chosen the position wisely, being strategically very well placed and totally protected from the Devons' gunfire.
The deadly obstacle had to be removed — a task which could only be achieved by venturing out from the village, crossing no man's land and attacking the post from a different angle. Bob volunteered to undertake this mission and set off with his Lewis gun.
Moving through difficult territory carrying a 12kg (25lb) machine gun, and using all the skill and care he could muster, he came up behind the Turks within ten yards of their position. Sheltering behind a rock he fixed his gun, took aim, opened fire and wiped out the post.
Afterwards he found three bullet holes through his uniform — one through his jacket, another through his sleeve and the third through his knapsack. The last pierced an oil can and a tin of corned beef which, now polluted with oil, had to be thrown away. Much to Bob's chagrin. A small price to pay, however, for surviving such a dangerous but crucial and successful operation.
It was for this action that Bob was awarded the Military Medal.
The Military Medal is held by the Renals family.
Bob's full service record — from Gallipoli to the Somme — was researched and written by his eldest son Edwin Renals in November 2008.