Shoeing Smith Michael Bernard Coghlan

See Notes (1)

Michael was born in Bacchus Marsh, VIC, in 1894 to David Coghlan and Isabella Teresa Hogg. Michael had a brother, David, who is also remembered in the Avenue.

Michael was a farmer in Bacchus Marsh, VIC, when, with his parents' consent, he enlisted in the AIF on the 9^th of August 1915, aged just under 21. He was allotted to the 6^th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, 17^th Battery, before embarking aboard the HMAT A34 Persic in November, disembarking at Suez, Egypt, in late December.

Michael disembarked at Marseilles, France, in late March 1916. In November he was made Acting Bombardier - in the field, without pay. Michael was admitted to hospital with Bronchitis at the end of December and transferred to hospital in England in February 1917. He was granted two weeks leave in April and rejoined his unit in France in June - as a Driver. In October Michael was appointed to be a Shoeing Smith. He was admitted to hospital for a month in April 1918, with asthma. He was granted two weeks leave in the UK at the end of August, but a week later he was again in hospital, this time with an injury to his back and side - he transferred to hospital in England a few days later. Michael was discharged from hospital in November and granted another two weeks leave before embarking for Australia aboard the Ceramic in late January 1919.

After a few days at sea Michael was admitted to the ship's hospital with influenza and disembarked at Suez, Egypt. He re-embarked aboard the Port Sydney in March and arrived back in Australia in the middle of April - he was discharged from the AIF in June 1919.

In November 1919 he applied to the Department of Repatriation for a free passage for his Fiancee from England to Australia. There was a Michael Bernard Coghlan joined the RAAF in 1942, born in Werribee, VIC, in 1924, Next of Kin was M B Coghlan.

Michael Coghlan died at Heidelberg, VIC, in 1972, aged 78.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour for the Coimadai State School. He is also remembered in the Coimadai Avenue of Honour.

Notes

1. He was a Driver when he enlisted but was later ranked as a Shoeing Smith.
   Driver and Shoeing Smith are probably both the equivalent rank of a Private - they just distinguish different duties.

Location of Tree Number S060

Tree Position (accuracy ±1 tree) -37.679018763899876, 144.45484116214166

Related Links

• Timeline
• Nominal Roll
• Embarkation Roll
• Service Records
• Unit Diaries

Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 10:57:48