Lt. E. Courtenay 20th Hussars.

Lt. E. Courtenay 20th Hussars, present at Nyezane, Gingindlovu & the Relief of Eshowe (Powderham
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Photo By Tim Needham

Colonel Edward Reginald Courtenay, C.B., born 27 June 1853. Entered the Army as Sub-Lieutenant 25th Regiment of Foot 9 August 1873, Lieutenant 20th Hussars 4th October 1873, Adjutant 23rd March 1881 to 26 September 1884, Captain i July 1881, Major 13th Hussars 10 April 1889, nth Hussars 6 May 1891, Lieut-Colonel 17th June 1896, Brevet Colonel 17th June 1900; employed on Staff (Regimental District) 8th October 1900 to 8 October 1905; special service Cape of Good Hope 1st November 1878 to 19th September 1879; Colonel and A.A.G. North-West District and A.A.G. Welsh and Midland Command 8 October 1900 to 7th October 1905 ; retired 8th October 1905 ; served in Zulu Campaign 1879-80, as Staff Officer to mounted troops of 1st Division at battle of Inyezane, relief of Etshowe, and battle of Ginginhlovo (horse shot, mentioned in despatches, "London Gazette," 7th and 16th May 1879, medal with clasp); in Soudan Expedition 1884-85, at the Nile, with troops crossing the Bayuda Desert from Gubat to Korti, at attack on camp at Abu Klea 17th February (medal with two clasps, bronze star); served with the Egyptian Frontier Field Force in 1885-86, and was present at the engagement at Giniss; with Dongola Expedition 1896 (mentioned in despatches, and clasp); North- West Frontier of India 1897-98 (medal with clasp); nominated C.B. 30th June 1905.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Edward Reginald Courtenay was born in December 1853, eldest son of Major G. H. Courtenay, and great-nephew of the 11th Earl of Devon. He was educated at Charterhouse, and commissioned into the 25th Foot on 9 August 1873. He transferred as Lieutenant to the 20th Hussarson 4 October 1873. He served throughout the Zulu War of 1879 as Staff Officer of the mounted troops of the Lower Tugela Column, and was present at the engagement of Inyezane, the action of Gingindhlovu (horse shot), and the relief of Ekowe (despatches London Gazette 7th May and 16th May 1879. Medal with clasp [roll shows ‘1879’]).

Promoted to Captain on 1 July 1881, Courtenay next served in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, in command of the troop of 20th Hussars with the Light Camel Regiment. He took part in the operations of the Desert Column, including the attack on the Convoy on 14th February, and the engagement at Abu Klea Wells on the 16th and 17th February (Medal with clasp and Khedive’s Star). He also served with the Egyptian Frontier Field Force in 1885-86, as Adjutant to the 20th Hussars and as Staff Officer to mounted troops, and was present in the engagement at Ginnis (mentioned in despatches).

He was promoted Major on appointment to the 13th Hussars in April 1889, transferred to the 11th Hussars on 6 May 1891, and was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 11th Hussars from 1896-1900, during which period he commanded them on the North West Frontier of India in 1897-98 (Medal with clasp). He relinquished his command on promotion to Brevet Colonel in June 1900, and was appointed Assistant Adjutant General, and Chief Staff Officer, North West District, with rank of Colonel, 1900-05. He was created a Comapnaion of the Bath in 1905, and served on the General Staff, Welsh and Midland Command, 1905-07, and as Inspector of Yeomanry and Colonel in charge of Cavalry Records, York, 1917-10. Courtenat retired in 1910, but rejoined in 1914, serving in the U.K. and France (?) until 1917, as Deputy Adjutant General, 2nd Army Central Force. He was mentioned in despatches and created a Companion of St Michael and St George in 1917. Brigadier-General Courtenay died in London on 29 March 1919. No Medal Index Card can be traced for this officer and it is therefore probable that he is not entitled to campaign medals for the Great War.

Source: Dix Noonan

Name Courtenay, Colonel Edward Reginald
Prefix Colonel
Born 27 Jun 1853
Gender Male
Died 29 Mar 1919 St. George Hanover Sq London England

Father Courtenay, Major George Henry, b. 23 Dec 1814, Beckenham Kent England Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 2 Jan 1910, St. Thomas Devon England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 95 years)
Mother Samuda, Laura, b. 1819, London Middlesex England.
d. 28 Jun 1892 (Age 73 years)
Married 22 Sep 1852.

Family Hammersley, Mary Emily,
b. 1858, Ireland , d. 20 Dec 1928 (Age 70 years)
Married 5 Aug 1891 Farnham Surrey England.
Courtenay, Mary Catherine Natalie, b. 14 Dec 1892, Punjab India. ,
d. 2 Sep 1933 (Age 40 years)

Notes Colonel Edward Reginald Courtenay fought in the Zulu War in 1870 where he was mentioned in despatches twice.
He fought in the Nile Expedition between 1884 and 1885.
He fought in the Sudan Expedition between 1885 and 1886 where he was mentioned in despatches.
He fought in the North-West Frontier between 1897 and 1898.
He was invested as a Companion Order of the Bath (C.B.).
He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the 11th Hussars.
He gained the rank of Temporary Brigadier-General in 1914 in the service of the 2nd Army Central Force.
He lived at Sydenham Kent England