COURTNEY, Oliver Stewart

Oliver’s birth to Thomas and Isabel Courtney at Swan Vale was registered at Inverell in 1895. Oliver was a twenty-one-year-old single man living at Swan Vale when he enlisted at Inverell in November 1916.

After joining the 2nd Camel Corps, he sailed from Australia for Egypt on board RMS Karmala in February 1917 – the same unit and ship as Michael Grimes whose family also lived at Swan Vale. Two months after arriving in Egypt, Oliver was taken on strength with the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance and appointed Driver. He remained in Egypt until his return to Australia on the ship Delta in September 1919.

Upon his return to Swan Vale, he and Michael Grimes were given a ‘Welcome Home’ by residents and presented with a medal and gold watch with chain.

Oliver farmed at Swan Vale in the 1930s before moving to Glen Innes where he and his wife lived until his death there in 1969.