Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Courtney was born at Hebburn in 1893 one of 12 children of whom only 10 survived, 4 sons and 6 daughters. His parents George Courtney (1859) and Elizabeth (1867) were born in Ireland, but living in Scotland until 1889. Their daughter Ellen was born at Hebburn in 1890, they were living at that time at 45, John’s Lane, John’s father was a chemical worker, labouring at the copper works. In 1911 whilst they were living at 67, Thistle Lane, known as 59, Rose Street, Hebburn, his father was employed as a furnace-man whilst George (23) and John (18) were employed at the shipyards.
John Courtney enlisted at Jarrow, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne assigned as Private 10854 to the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, a battalion of the Regular Army, he was drafted to France, November 11th 1914, in the first wave of men, joining his battalion attached to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division, in the field during the First Battle of Ypres. in Belgium. The 2nd Battalion was one of four that remained on the Western Front for the entire duration of the war. They fought at Loos in 1915 and on the Somme in 1916 at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 1916.
Private 10854 John Courtney Coldstream Guards was killed in action on the Somme, September 14th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval France, commemorating service men from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. He was 24 years old and single.
His father George received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His mother Elizabeth died aged 52 years in 1919 registered in the district of Newcastle, details of father unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Courtney is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
