COURTNEY, John Classon
| Service Number: | 1006 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 July 1916, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Born: | Auckland, New Zealand, May 1893 |
| Home Town: | Manly, Manly Vale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Burwood Public School |
| Occupation: | Fitter and turner |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Marquillies, France, 7 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Body completely burnt and buried at point of impact. |
| Memorials: | Arras Flying Services Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Manly War Memorial NSW |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1006, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 1916: | Transferred Corporal, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 17 Jan 1917: | Embarked Sergeant, 1006, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, RMS Omrah, Melbourne | |
| 17 Jan 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 1006, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Omrah embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1917: | Promoted Second Lieutenant, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps | |
| 17 Jan 1918: | Promoted Lieutenant, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps | |
| 7 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-04-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"...Lieutenant John Classon Courtney of Manly, NSW (originally of Auckland, New Zealand). He enlisted on 3 July 1916 in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). He embarked from Melbourne, Vic on 17 January 1917 as a Temporary Flight Sergeant on B Flight of the AFC. He undertook some further flying instruction on his arrival in England, following which he was appointed a Second Lieutenant with 4 Squadron AFC on 17 November 1917, prior to the squadron's departure for France. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 17 January 1918. On 7 April 1918, while leading a formation of aircraft on a bombing raid over the La Bassee-Lille road, his aircraft went into a vertical dive, burst into flames and crashed after being hit by a gun firing a 'flaming onion' shell. On 25 May a German airman dropped a message in Allied lines that Lt John Classon Courtney had been killed. He was aged 24." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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