| Regimental number | 624 |
| Place of birth | Oakleigh, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Bay Street, Sandringham, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 5' 7.75" |
| Weight | 126 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Jane Coghlan, Bay Street, Sandringham, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D sailed on two ships, HMAT A62 Wandilla, 9th November 1915 from Melbourne, and HMAT A41 Bakara, 5 November 1915, from Melbourne. It is not possible to tell from the Embarkation Roll on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Enlisted 5 July 1915; taken on strength 31st Bn 19 October 1915. |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
| Age at death | 25 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 4162 Pte Thomas COGHLAN, 8th Bn, returned to Australia, 13 February 1917. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, ex-HMT 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916. Reported missing, 21 July 1916. Previous report of missing now, 28 July 1916, killed in action, 20 July 1916. Statement, Red Cross File No 760804, 961 Pte J. THOMPSDON, 60th Bn, 19 December 1917: 'We were advancing at Flerbiax (sic) and Casualty was in front of me when a shell exploded just near him and when the smoke cleared I looked for him but there was not any sign of him.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, COGHLAN John
Red Cross file 760804 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
