COUGHLAN, Luke Bernard
| Service Numbers: | 3407, 3407B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 49th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St George, Queensland, Australia, 12 October 1889 |
| Home Town: | Yuleba (Yeulba), Maranoa, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed in action, Dernancourt, France, 5 April 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Jackson & District Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Yeulba (Yuleba) Honour Board, Yuleba Cenotaph War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3407, 49th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 3407, 49th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Apr 1918: | Involvement Private, 3407B, 47th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3407B awm_unit: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-04-05 | |
| 24 Jan 2017: | Embarked Private, 3407, 49th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Luke Bernard Coughlan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Son of Luke Bernard and Ellen Coughlan, of Callitris Station near Yeulba, Queensland. Born at St. George, Queensland.
His father was a pioneer of their remote part of Queensland, owning a large station and was a noted journalist and newspaper editor in the district. His sons were well versed as bushmen and horsemen of note.
Luke Bernard Coughlan was known as ‘Bernie’ to his family and friends and he enlisted the same day as his brother John Valentine ‘Val’ Coughlan. They were both posted to the 49th Battalion.
The Western Star and Roma Advertiser noted in 1918 of Bernie Coughlan, “This is the lad who rode and conquered Skuthorpe's famous buckjumper, Aeroplane, at the Brisbane military camp. His father was at one time editor and proprietor of the ‘St George Standard.”
Bernie only arrived on the Western Front during February 1918, and was taken on strength of the 47th Battalion.
He was present at the defence of Dernancourt on 5 April 1918, when the 47th Battalion took the brunt of a heavy German attack right into their position. Bernie Coughlan was seen to be badly hit by a large piece of shrapnel but his remains were lost after the war.
His mother, Ellen noted on his roll of honour form, “While in camp in Brisbane he was feted with cheers when he conquered the famous outlaw horse ‘Aeroplane’. Sergeant McManus says he was killed on the 5th April 1918 while on signal duty and Lieut.Col. Imlay says he was killed in action against a mass of Germans and died fighting gallantly.”
The Balonne Beacon printed a letter in June 1918, regarding Bernie’s death, “Bernie Coughlan, as he was best known to his many friends, was only a short time at the front when killed, having been about twelve months in the reserves in' England before going to France. His death will be a very hard blow to his parents, brothers and sisters, and will lake many long years to become reconciled to their great loss. Of a shy reserved nature, only Bernie's most intimate friends knew his sterling qualities and good character, which gave him all the true virtues of a chaste and noble manhood. Bernie Coughlan was at one time employed at Hillsborough, on the Maranoa, as an overseer and left there to live on and stock his own property, Bulberanga, near Yeulba. While at Hillsborough he became endeared to all, was loved as a brother, and he will be mourned as a son for all time.”
Click images to start slideshow.