COUGHLAN, Charles McKenzie
| Service Number: | 2898 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 December 1915, Casula, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Burwood, New South Wales, 16 February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Ashfield, Ashfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Burwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | Balgowlah, New South Wales, 18 February 1966, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2898, 31st Infantry Battalion, Casula, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2898, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2898, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of the late H J and Anges G COUGHLAN, Croydon, NSW
"...2898 Sapper Charles McKenzie Coughlan, MM, of 6 Field Artillery Brigade, (FAB) AIF. Coughlan was born in February 1894 at Burwood, NSW, and was an electrician working with Anthony Hordens of Sydney when he enlisted in the AIF on 7 December 1915; he embarked for overseas service on 14 March 1916 aboard HMAT Anchises. After a short period of illness in Egypt, Coughlan was transferred to France with the 6th Army Brigade Australian Field Artillery Signals Subsection. On 19 August 1918, at Rosieres in France, Coughlan, with 5881 Sergeant John Leslie Harrison, placed themselves at great risk over a period of 90 minutes during an extensive enemy bombardment to successfully repair severed communication lines, an action for which both men were recommended for the Military Medal. Two months later, on 20 October, Coughlan suffered exposure to phosgene gas and was taken to 1 General Hospital at Etretat; the Armistice was declared while he was recovering. Coughlan's younger brother, 15343 Sapper Paul McKenzie Coughlan also served with 6 FAB, and was also recommended for the Military Medal for an action on 25 September 1917 under circumstances very similar to those of his brother's. Both men sought and were granted leave form the Army in early 1919 to train as electrical engineers with the London Urban Electrical Supply Company, presumably with a view to future employment in Australia..." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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