Drums from the Past
Sgt. Maj. Coughlan 
to Be Finally Remembered

By Donal Buckley, Irish Army retired

Sgt. Maj. Cornelius Coughlan VC was born in Eyrecourt, Co. Galway in 1828. He joined the 75th (Sterlingshire) Regiment (later Gordon Highlanders and now The Highland Regiment) and served in it for more than 21 years. 

He became famous as a color sergeant in the Indian Mutiny of 1857, being awarded the Victoria Cross for bringing the severely wounded Pvt. Corbett to safety under fire. 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 Coughlan’s name. 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.

Following 13 years service in India, he transferred to the Third Battalion, The Connaught Rangers, settling in Co. Mayo. Coughlan then lived for 40 years on Altamont St., Westport, until his death of old age in 1915.

His funeral was held with full military honors. A firing party of the Royal Field Artillery and the Fife and Drum Band and Bugle Band of 10th Hants. Regiment -- commanded by an officer in full regimentals -- arrived by mail train from Athlone and proceeded to the local church to take up their appointed positions. The 12-member firing party with arms reversed, marched in front of the hearse. The band with big drum and four side drums draped, marched immediately behind. 

A detachment of the Royal Irish Constabulary followed and next came the hearse and mourning carriages. As the cortege moved slowly forward, the drums rolled and the band played the funeral march, "Indian Warriors Grave." The rolling of the drums and the plaintive fifes added much to the impressiveness of the procession. Everywhere were crowded streets and shuttered businesses.

Arriving at Aughavale, the firing party took up its positions on each side of the grave. As the coffin was lowered into the grave, three volleys were fired into the air and the buglers sounded "The Last Post." 

 At the time of his funeral, Coughlan had four grandsons in the Army, three going to the front in Europe and one already there fighting at the battle of La Bassee.

And so a year passed and 1916 came -- along with it, a terrible beauty was born. The political wind changed and blew and life was never the same again. The years 1917 passed and 1918 and soldiers who wore the English army uniform were no longer welcome. The War of Independence was fought and the new Free State was established even as Sgt. Maj. Coughlan VC lay in his unmarked grave. 

The fact that this man served in an imperial army is not the point. The fact that he was involved in denying Indians their independence is not the point. The point is that soldiers in combat are not thinking of political ambition or lofty ideals, they are thinking of staying alive. Their loyalty is to their comrades. 

The point is that he proved his tremendous personal bravery by rescuing a comrade soldier under fire and by displaying initiative and leadership in combat. His bravery was deemed to be worthy of the Victoria Cross. This award is not given lightly and out of the 1,354 VCs awarded to date, 190 have been given to Irishmen. This is a proud record. Irishmen are listed in the awards of many countries but the Victoria Cross is the world’s most famous award for bravery in combat.

For 89 years, Sgt. Maj. Coughlan has lain in an unmarked grave in Aughavale cemetery, just a mile outside Westport. He has been forgotten by the people of Westport and the people of Ireland. References to the grave of Coughlan on web sites and associated publications stating "grave unknown, near Westport."

To have an Irish warrior hero forgotten is more than sad. This man’s grave should be honored and now the time is coming when it will be.

On Aug 7 this year, a proper headstone will be unveiled with due military ceremony. We at Military Heritage Tours Ltd. have had the grave identified and funds are being raised in order to mark this site. The Minister for Defense has been invited to make the dedication and the British ambassador has been invited to reply.

Much interest has been stirred by this project. It is seen as an extraordinary gesture of reconciliation by many people in Northern Ireland and in Britain. To have an Irish minister honoring the grave of an Irish soldier of the British Army in the West of Ireland is magnanimous indeed. 

It will also be a very important statement pertaining to who we in the Republic are, our generosity of spirit and how we are willing and able to acknowledge and celebrate aspects of our shared history and tradition. 

The ceremony will also be a declaration of our coming of age as a nation and a statement of political maturity, without the baggage of post-colonial angst that was worn in albatross fashion until recently. 

It also is a contribution to the history of this island. Sgt. Maj. Cornelius Coughlan is just one of the hundreds of thousands of Irish servicemen who have been written out of the history of the Republic. 

 Among them are the more than 100,000 Irish citizens from the then Free State who enlisted in the British Army between 1939 and 1945. This figure does not include the Royal Navy, RAF and other Commonwealth forces. It does however include up to 8,500 soldiers who deserted the Irish Army when they saw that were not going to get to grips with the enemy if they stayed in Ireland. 

 Coughlan’s descendants will be arriving from the UK, Germany, USA and Canada for the August ceremony A fund has been opened in the Credit Union, Bridge St., Westport for donations. The fund is simply called "Coughlan VC". 

Please support this project and please come to the dedication. For further information, check www.militaryheritagetours.com or contact the writer at 094 903 1344 or dbuckley@anu.ie