Snapshot of the past

A photograph of Arthur Renton, the tallest policeman in Victoria in the 1920s, of Drouin.

Arthur, known to his friends as “Tiny”, is captured standing next to Detective Leo O’Sullivan.

Arthur, together with his brothers Harold and Frank, fought in World War I.

The three brothers survived the war but were all wounded, and returned home to the Drouin district to live.

Frank was the third and youngest brother, born in 1898. He was 18-years-old when he enlisted.

Harold was 20-years-old at the time of enlistment in 1915, whilst Arthur was aged 23 when he enlistment in 1916.

The Renton brothers were all badly affected by gassing or “trench foot” in some way.

Frank died at 44-years-old and is buried at the Drouin Cemetery.

The Renton Brothers were tall men; Frank was 190.5cm, Harold was 198cm and Arthur was 203cm.

Harold joined the Victorian Police and was the tallest policeman in the state at the time. He later returned to work for Porter Brothers in Drouin, running a carrying business.

Arthur also joined the police force and broke his brother’s record of being the tallest policeman in the state, standing in his socks at 6’8” tall.

Frank had applied to join the police force but was unsuccessful due to hearing loss sustained from the war.

Both Frank and Harold played for the Drouin Football Club. They were the tallest men in the West Gippsland football league.

Photograph and information courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between the Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR-FM to preserve local stories.

Visit storiesofdrouin.com.au to hear the story of the Renton brothers as told by Bev Jackson at the Drouin Cemetery Walk 2018.