Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Polar Medal to Lieutenant-Commander Henry Rennick, Royal Navy, Lieutenant and Hydrographer on Scott’s last expedition, who was killed when H.M.S. Hogue was sunk by a German submarine in September 1914

Polar Medal 1904, G.V.R., 1st issue, silver, 1 clasp, Antarctic 1910-13 (Lieut. E. De. P. Rennick, R.N. “Terra Nova”) nearly extremely fine

Henry Edward de Parny Rennick joined Terra Nova from H.M.S. Dryad and was in charge of the hydrographic survey work and deep-sea soundings. For medical reasons he was unable to join the shore party and remained on board the Terra Nova with the ship’s party under Commander Harry Pennell.

He was killed in action on 22 September 1914 in H.M.S. Hogue, which together with the Aboukir and Cressy, was sunk by Lieutenant Otto Weddigen in the U.9, about 30 miles from Ymuiden. The total loss of life in this triple disaster was over 1400 officers and men, the survivors numbering 60 officers and 777 men.

The Rennick Glacier, over 300 km long and one of the largest in Antarctica, was named in Rennick’s memory. It rises on the polar plateau westward of Mesa Range and takes its name from Rennick Bay where the glacier reaches the sea. The eastern part of the bay was discovered from the Terra Nova and also named after him.

A replacement Polar Medal was issued to Rennick’s widow in 1918, the original having probably been lost with him in the Hogue.