John Vincent Coghlan

  General Notes:

John signed up for the Australian Imperial Force on the 17th April 1915 and was assigned as a Private to "B" Company, 26th Battalion. His Service Number was 478. He was 31 years old, a Labourer and married. His wife was listed as his next of kin, her address recorded as Dalley Street, Mullumbimby, NSW. This was later altered to Gordon Street.

On the 12th January 1916 he was Taken on Strength with his Battallion at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt. It was not long before he was hospitalised for 4 days with a bout of Influenza, being released on 9 February. By 15th March 1916 he was on his way to Marseilles from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces in France.

Within 4 months he was wounded in action and hospitalised at Etaples in the north of France suffering from a Gunshot wound to his right arm. Etaples was a major Hospital centre for British, Australian and NZ forces in WW1. He was transferred out to England on the 3rd August 1916. By the 15th December he was fit enough to return to France, but was hospitalised again within a few days of arrival in Etaples suffering from Influenza. He finally rejoined his Battalion on the 9th January 1917.

On the 1st February he suffered a bout of Scabies requiring hospitalisation in the 1st ANZAC Scabies Hospital. Obviously Scabies had emerged as a major problem! Within 3 weeks he was also suffering from Hives. Then in early April he was admitted to hospital again, in Boulogne, suffering from Dyspepsia (abdominal pains). He rejoined his Battalion again on the 12th May 1917. He attended the 5th Army Musketry School in France for a week before rejoining his Battalion in France on the 3rd June 1917.

On the 20 September John was again wounded in action, this time in Belgium, suffering a Gunshot wound to the right buttock. Within a few days he was admitted to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport, just north of Dieppe in France. His wife received a telegram dated the 11th October, 1917 which simply read:

"PRIVATE JOHN COGHLAN ADMITTED FORTYSEVENTH GENERAL HOSPITAL SEPTEMBER TWENTYNINTH GUNSHOT WOUND RIGHT BUTTOCK SEVERE"

John died from his wounds on the 18th October, 1917.

He was buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery in Le Treport, Plot 5, Row B, Grave 1A.

In May of 1918 John's personal effects were returned to his wife, Ethel. The package was addressed to her at 69 Ernest St, Crows Nest, Sydney and comprised the following items:

2 Discs, 2 (50 Centimes) Notes, Rosary, Pipe, Tobacco pouch, Watch Chain, Pendant, Pipe Bowl, Razor, Razor Strop, Housewife, Leather Watch Guard, Watch Metal (Damaged) and Cover, 8 Badges, Wallet, Money Belt, Holdall, Note-Book, 15 Coins, Photos, Cards, tooth Brush, Mirror, Brush, 2 Razors, Testament, Buttons, Badges, Knife, Metal Chain.

John was the recipient of the 1914/15 Star, No 24753; the British War medal, No. 12687; and the Victory Medal, No, 12629. His widow received his Memorial Plaqu, No 335024 and Memorial Scroll, No. 335024.

John married Ethel Maud Stuart in 1912 in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.