Frederick Courtney was born at Bridgetown, Barbados in 1893. In 1913 he kept for an SS Kooeyanna team and became a member of the Training College club. He died at sea on board HT Medic en route to Colombo, Ceylon, at 4.30am, 10 November 1914 (pleurisy and pneumonia) and was buried in Ash Shatibi, Al Iskandariyah, Egypt.
His is the earliest soccer ANZAC death.Â
DEATHS AT SEA. TWO OFF THE FIRST CONTINGENT
Information was received yesterday by the military authorities of the death at sea of two members of the Western Australian quota of the first contingent, both having succumbed on board their troopship to pneumonia. The deceased were: Frederick Courtney, private, 11th battalion, aged 21 years, single man; next of kin, father, No. 1 State Mill, Manjimup. Died on November 10. Charles William Power, private, 11th battalion, aged 19 years, single; next of kin, father, Birchip (Victoria). Died November 11. Steps have been taken to communicate with the next of kin acquainting them with the sad intelligence, and conveying the condolences of the Minister for Defence.
West Australian, 18 November 1914