Regimental number | 137 |
Place of birth | Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | Accountant |
Age at embarkation | 35 |
Height | 5' 11" |
Weight | 178 lbs |
Next of kin | Wife, Isobel Edith Coady |
Previous military service | Served in New Zealand Colonial Forces; resigned |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 30th Battalion, A Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/47/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 30th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Age at death from cemetery records | 38 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.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 |
Sources | NAA: B2455, COADY Edward
Red Cross file 760111 |