Rosalie (Julia) Savory

Rosalie Julia Savory was the third child and eldest daughter of Charles Harley and Melita Savory, born on 3 November 1858 and baptised on 1 January 1859 at St George’s Hanover Square.

Rosalie married Frank Courtney, a civil engineer by profession, in 1887 in St Jude’s Church, Kensington. They had five children: Harry, born in 1890, who died at the age of 18; Geoffrey born in 1892; Lionel who died very young and Nora who married McKenzie of Dalmore, the owner of a whisky distillery. There was also a daughter, Enid, who died at birth. In addition, Rosalie and Frank adopted the son of his brother and sister-in-law following their death from cholera while in Malaya. Their son was also Frank Courtney.

Colonel Geoffrey Stuart Courtney, O.B.E., went to Dartmouth but was invalided our of the Navy in 1912. In the war (1914-18) he joined up as a despatch rider in the Royal Engineers (Signals). He was commissioned in 1915 later joining the 16th Lancers. He was wounded in early 1918 when his horse was killed and fell on him. In 1939, he was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders (London Scottish), later forming and commanding the 3rd Battalion the London Scottish. By the end of the war he was commandant of the Combined Operations Equipment and Specialist Training Establishment. He worked for Rootes Motors Ltd for a number of years, retiring from that company in the very month Tony Savory joined it.

He had three sons: David (b.1939) served in the Scots Guards for five years and then joined the Metal Box Company Ltd, where Rozanne Savory, daughter of Tony Savory worked with him in her first job.

The other sons are Christopher (b.1941) and Alain (b.1944).

Geoffrey Courtney died on 16th February 1982, aged 90.