Name/Title
1900 - Queen Victoria's Commission to a 1st Prince of Wales Regiment Fusiliers (CGG) 2nd Boer War Officer named to Lieutenant (Late Colonel) Reginald Mortimer Courtney, VD, KOstJ (1871-1953)Scope and Content
For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection *** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
1900 - Queen Victoria's Commission to a 1st Prince of Wales Regiment Fusiliers (CGG) 2nd Boer War Officer named to Lieutenant (Late Colonel) Reginald Mortimer Courtney, VD, KOstJ (1871-1953) dated on 21st February 1900.
ABOUT THE CGG OFFICER: Lt. (Late Colonel R.M. Courtney, VD, KOstJ)
FROM 'FALL IN THE GUARDS' by CGG Lt. M.A. Hayes-Rivet, Lt. (ret.)
Colonel Reginald Mortimer Courtney was a member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards and was born 12th August 1871 in Ottawa to Sir John Mortimer Courtney, CMG, ISO (Canadian Deputy Finance Minister and member of British Peerage). Colonel Courtney spent a majority of his years in the Canadian Army, however, did work as a Partner in a stock Brokerage Firm in Ottawa. He was one of 32 Canadian Grenadier Guards who participated in the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902) and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 5th PLDG in 1908 and retired from active service in 1913. In 1915 he was reactivated to serve in WWI, eventually being promoted to full Colonel and after 35 years of military service, was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Mounted Brigade, a position he retained until 1930. He was awarded his Canadian Officers Volunteer Decoration (VD) in 1930 and was awarded the Knight of Grace Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in 1952. He passed away on 10 October 1953 and is buried with military honours in Beechwood National Military Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.
Reported in the Ottawa Citizen: “In 1902, MAJOR R COURTNEY, has seen a great deal of foreign military service. Major R. Courtney is one of the bright young soldiers who has seen much service. He graduated from the Royal Military College in 1891, and joined the Brighton Engineers, to which he was -attached for two years. Then he went to the 6th Fusiliers (CGG) in 1896, and a year later was gazetted as a Captain. He was an officer in the jubilee contingent in 1897. He was appointed as Captain with the 1st Prince of Wales Fusiliers (CGG) on organization in 1898 and in 1900 he was seconded for service in the 2nd Boar War as an officer in the newly created Lord Strathcona's Horse. He served under the British Army Corps level and served with distinction with other officers 'in the advance through 'Natal' and the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. At this time, he was a lieutenant and was gazetted a captain in November 1900. In 1902 he was in command of the Lord Strathcona Horse at the coronation, and on his return in 1904, he was transferred to the 5th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (5th P.L.D.G) and was in command of the second squadron for organization. Major Courtney was awarded the Queens South African medal with three bars for Belfast, Natal and Orange River. He was also appointed an honorary Captain in the British Imperial army.” In recognition of his service, he was selected as one of the officers to serve at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in England in 1897, and he was also an officer with the Canadian Contingent for the King Edward VII's Coronation.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
November 20, 2025Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
September 19, 2026
