Three: Captain A. R. Courtenay, Royal Army Service Corps, late Duke of Westminster’s Squadron Armoured Cars, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

1914-15 Star (S. Lt., R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) slightly later issues, extremely fine (3) £100-140

Ashley Reginald Courtenay was born in Haywards Heath on 23 July 1888, the son of Rev. C. Courtenay, and was educated at Haileybury School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating with a B.A. in 1910. Prior to the war he was employed in advertising. Commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R., 25 May 1915 (London Gazette 15 June 1915) for service with the Royal Naval Air Service (Armoured Cars). An article on the man in the Telegraph Sunday Magazine reads:

‘.... Then there was the First World war in which he served as a member of the Duke of Westminster’s squadron of armoured Rolls-Royce cars. This consisted of driving up to the front, firing machine-guns and then reversing at 20mph, he recalled (”we were not popular”)’.

Later served with the A.S.C., being promoted to Captain in January 1919 (London Gazette 9 May 1921). After the war he returned to advertising and worked for General Electric Co. before launching his own agency. He then worked as a Hotelier, successively in Guildford, Devon and Hertfordshire and began to write a hotel column for the Morning Post. In 1933 he founded and authored the hotel and travel guide, Lets Halt Awhile which he published for over 50 years.

He died on 7 October 1986, aged 98 years, whilst on a a wine tasting cruise in the Mediterranean and Black Sea with his third wife. With Telegraph Sunday Magazine, 5 August 1984 featuring an article on Courtenay, newspaper obituaries and copied research. The copied m.i.c. shows that his medals were applied for and issued in 1927.