Ross Allen Courtnage

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit at enlistment:

Royal Naval Air Service

Force:

R.N.A.S.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Norfolk

Birth city:

Waterford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

148 Sheridan Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

148 Sheridan Street, Brantford, Ontario

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

Accident/Illness

BX May 16, 1916

Air Pilot Broken Legs – Brantford Aviator Collided With Second Machine, its Pilot Being Killed – Out of Danger

Ross Allen Courtnage, member of the Royal Naval Air Service, and a Brantford boy being the first to enter the Naval Air Service of Britain, was in a collision with another air pilot at a place not given in the official notice. He was hurled to the ground and both legs were broken above the knees. The other pilot whose identity was not made known here was killed in the collision.

Ross Courtnage was well known in this city having been a student at the Brantford Collegiate Institute for some time. He was attached to the Royal Naval Air Service on May 5, 1915, and after taking a course in aviation successfully passed his examinations as a flyer on September 2.

The first intimation that he had been injured came on Friday last, when Mrs. Albert Taylor of this city, his sister received an official notice that her brother had been seriously wounded. This morning another was received stating that in a collision with another air pilot he had had both legs broken above the knee but that he was positively out of danger. The other air pilot whose name was not given was killed in the accident.

BX September 11, 1916

Local Aviator Is On Way home – Lieut. Ross Courtnage Was Injured in Collision in Mid-Air

About four months ago Flight Lieutenant Ross Allen Courtenage of the Royal Naval Air Service, in collision with another air pilot was hurled to the ground and had both his legs broken above the knees. Today word was received in the city that he had arrived in Montreal last evening from Liverpool and had left almost immediately for his home in Brantford.

One year ago, Ross Courtnage who is very well known here, having received his education at the local collegiate institute, successfully passed his tests as a flyer. Almost immediately he reported for duty in the old land.

On May 15 last Mrs. Albert Taylor of this city, a sister, received word that he had been seriously wounded. Further word received brought the information that both his legs had been broken in a collision with another air pilot. The other pilot was killed in the collision.