Cornelius Coughlan

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Cornelius Coughlan VC (27 June 1828 in Eyrecourt, County Galway - 1915) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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[edit] Details

He was 28 years old, and a Colour Sergeant in the 75th Regiment (later The Gordon Highlanders), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 8 June 1857 at Delhi, India, Colour-Sergeant Coughlan gallantly ventured under heavy fire, with three others, into a serai occupied by the enemy in great numbers and rescued a private of their regiment who was severely wounded.

An account of his bravery on 18 July in the London Gazette read: "Colour Sgt Coughlan encouraged a party who hesitated to charge down a lane raked by a cross-fire, then entering with the said party, into an enclosure filled with the enemy, destroyed every man; for having also on the same occasion returned under a cross-fire to collect dhoolies [early stretchers] to carry off the wounded."

Queen Victoria felt moved to write a personal letter to Sgt Major Coughlan on hearing about his act of bravery.

[edit] Further information

The soldier returned from India to serve for two decades in the Connaught Rangers in his native Ireland achieving the rank of sergeant-major.

He died in Westport, County Mayo on 14 February 1915 and is buried locally.

[edit] The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland).

[edit] Coughlan remembered

In August 2004, the previously unmarked grave of Sergeant Major Coughlan was recognised in a formal ceremony attended by the Irish defence minister and the British ambassador and conducted by a Roman Catholic priest and a Protestant clergyman[1].

More than 200 people, including descendants, watched as 10 re-enactors dressed in the period costume of the Connaught Rangers, fired a volley of shots over his grave.

[edit] References

Listed in order of publication year

[edit] External links