Henry Courtney's Story.
Born 27 May 1888 at Swythamley, Staffordshire, son of Sir Philip Lancaster J.P. D.L. and Lady Annie Lee Brocklehurst (nee Dewhurst) of Macclesfield. In 1901 Henry was receiving his education at Malvern. He joined the army and received his commission 8 January 1908, and by 1911, he was serving with the Prince of Wales’s Own Royal 10th Hussars in India as a Lieutenant. At the outbreak of the Great War, Henry embarked with the British Expeditionary Force for France Immediately, and for a period was attached to the 5th Dragoon Guards.
At the end of the war he received the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, these were sent to his home address at, Bagstones, Wincle, Macclesfield, Cheshire. During his Great War service he attained his Aero Flying Licence, No 4154, on 22 January 1917. His certificate was taken on a Grahame-White Biplane at Grahame-White School, Hendon, his address at that time was, Cavalry Club, 127, Piccadilly, W, London. Having gained his flying licence, Henry then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, which then became the Royal Air Force, his rank was Captain.
Henry married Helen A. W. Mitford on the 11 July 1918 at St George, Hanover Square London, they divorced in 1931. They had one son, John Ogilvy, born 6 April 1926.
The Macclesfield Courier and Herald, carried an article which referred to Lieutenant Colonel Brocklehurst as being a big game hunter, naturalist and explorer, who had travelled all over the globe. It also mentioned that in West Park Museum there was a giant panda which he has shot on a lone trip to the Far East. He also accompanied his brother Sir Philip, to the Artic in 1912, and was to have taken charge of the dogs on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous Endurance expedition, but owing to the outbreak of war in 1914 was recalled to his unit.
He was a fine horseman, a good polo player, and an extra-ordinary rifle shot. In the early days of WW11 he was on secret intelligence and commanded a mission in Abyssinia.
Between April and June 1942 he was commanding a Special Service Detachment on Commando lines in Burma. When the enemy broke through at Lashio he and his party faced a perilous march to break through, having to face impenetrable bush and appalling monsoon conditions with rivers raging torrents.
Henry was killed in active service, fighting with a Commando unit in Burma, Sunday, 28 June 1942, aged 54 years.
Researched by H.A.G. Carlisle