Mayo Victoria Cross recipient’s grave lay unmarked for nearly 90 years

By Tom Gillespie

June 27 marked the 195th anniversary of the birth of Cornelius Coughlan who 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.

Coughlan was born on June 27, 1828, at Eyrecourt, Co. Galway. He was the son of Edward and Catherine Coughlan and was educated locally in Eyrecourt.

Soon after leaving school he decided to join the Army. He enlisted with the 75th Regiment of Foot (Stirlingshire) (now the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders) and would remain in the Army for 21 years. After his retirement he lived at Altamount Street, Westport, for over 40 years.

Coughlan was posted to India at the outbreak of the Mutiny in 1857. For his services in the Mutiny, he was awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal with two clasps for Delhi and the Relief of Lucknow, along with the award of the Victoria Cross.

Coughlan (on his citation misspelt Coghlan) was awarded the Victoria Cross over four years after the end of the Indian Mutiny on November 11, 1862.

His citation notes two separate incidents of gallantry, the first on June 8, 1857, and the second on July 18, 1857.

On June 8, 1857, he volunteered, with three other men, to go out under a heavy fire into an enemy occupied serai to rescue a badly wounded Private Corbett of the 75th Regiment of Foot.

Coughlan was wounded in the knee during this action. Later, during the siege of Delhi, when his officers were killed and he found himself in command, he encouraged his wavering men by word and example to return to the attack.

This engagement resulted in victory and the Kabul Gate was stormed and taken.

This achievement was so noteworthy that a memorial tablet and monument were erected over the gate and included in the inscription was the name of Colour Sergeant Cornelius Coughlan.

Queen Victoria wrote a personal letter to him complimenting him on his bravery and lamenting the fact that she could not personally award him with his VC.

Coughlan was invested with his VC on January 31, 1863, at Devonport by Major General Sir William Hutchinson, who was representing the Queen.

Coughlan served for a total of 13 years in India with the 75th Regiment of Foot, and, after his return to Ireland, transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers, settling in Westport. The 3rd Battalion was the reserve (part-time) battalion.

He was married in 1856 to Margaret (maiden name unknown). They had three sons and one daughter. At the time of his death four of their grandsons were serving in the army.

He also, later in life, served with the South Mayo Rifles, a militia regiment. He lived for over 40 years on Altamount Street in Westport before his death on February 14, 1915, at the age of 87.

His funeral was a huge affair comprising a firing party of the Royal Field Artillery, the Fife, Drum and Bugle Band of the 10th Hants Regiment, and many relatives and friends of Coughlan also attended the service.

However, a year passed and no headstone had been erected on his grave. In 1916, the Easter Rising occurred and soldiers who had worn the British uniform were no longer welcome. As a result, Coughlan would remain in an unmarked grave in Aughavale Cemetery in Westport for over 89 years.

In August 2004, the Irish Defence Minister, Michael Smith, unveiled a new headstone on the site of Coughlan’s final resting place.

In so doing the Irish government formally recognised for the first time the Irish Nationalist Catholic tradition in the British Army.

The ceremony was attended by the British Ambassador and the British Defence Attaché.

Many regimental, ex-servicemen and historical associations from Ireland and the UK attended and participated in the ceremony which followed an ecumenical service.

More than 500 people, including descendants from Bradford and Glasgow in the UK, watched as 10 Connaught Rangers re-enactors from Ireland and the UK fired a volley of shots over his grave.

Coughlan’s medals are held by the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle.