The AIF Project

Edward COADY

Regimental number137
Place of birthHokitika, Westland, New Zealand
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationAccountant
Age at embarkation35
Height5' 11"
Weight178 lbs
Next of kinWife, Isobel Edith Coady
Previous military serviceServed in New Zealand Colonial Forces; resigned
Enlistment date21 April 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name30th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/47/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll30th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records38
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
116
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Maurice and Catherine COADY; Wife: Isabel E. COADY, 171 Jones Street, Ultimo, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.

Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, 10 February 1916, of neglect of duty: admonished.

Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 21 April 1916, and transfererd to Casualty Clearing Station (nephritis); discharged, 1 May 1916.

Admitted to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 1 May 1916 (chronic nephritis); transferred to No 4 Hospital Train, 5 May 1916, and admitted same day to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis; rejoined Bn, Ferry Post, 25 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 760111 , 1556 Pte A. GORDON, A Company, 30th Bn (patient, No 22 General Hospital, Etaples), 4 December 1916: 'We had gone over the top at Fromelles bear Fleurbaix, and were crossing No Man's Land. I was close to him when a bullet struck him and killed him. As a lot were buried next day, I have no doubt my sergeant was amongst them.'

Second statement, 288 Pte T.G. SCOTT, 30th Bn, 7 December 1916: 'He was digging a sap on Nomansland (sic), and was killed by m.g. fire.'

Third statement, 2166 Pte R.F. South, 30th Bn, 7 December 1916: 'He was killed in a sap at Fleurbaix after we had gone over, by m.g. fire.'

Fourth statement, 1302 Cpl A.J. LANGBEIN [recorded as LAUGHLIN], A Company, 30th Bn (patient, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester, England), 12 December 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19/16 at Fromelles, the Batt. was digging a sap, and as soon as Sgt. Coady had dug deep enough to afford cover, he gave his place up to another and went on digging. He was killed while thus exposing himself ... He was a hero if ever there was one.'

Fifth statement, Lt J.H. FACEY, 30th Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England), 12 December 1916: 'Coady was in charge of his section digging a sap towards the German lines at Fromelles om 19-20th. July. He got out of his own position which was fairy safe and put in this position a couple of young privates of his section who were in a more dangerous position and took charge of this more dangerous position. He had no sooner taken charge when he was shot by a machine gun. He as buried where he fell in the sap. Sgt. Coady was a hero and thought very highly of by his men.'

Sixth statement, 1075 Pte V.T. GLADSTONE, 30th Bn, 13 December 1916: 'I know for certain that he was not buried.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, COADY Edward
Red Cross file 760111

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.