COUGHLAN, Talouchlan

Talouchlan [ Thomas] was born in Sydney in1894

He enlisted on the 15 December 1914 at Echuca Victoria. He is 20 years old labourer. A small man 5'3'' and weighing on 8stone 4 lbs. He is the only son of Annie Coughlan who is living at 480 Albert Street East Melbourne.

He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Runic on the 12 Feb 1915

He is taken on strengh with 7th Batt on the 3 April 15 and joins his unit at Gallipoli on the 8 May 1915

At the extended battle of Lone Pine from 6-9 August 1915 he is reported missing

A court of enquiry is held in 'the field' in France on the 5 June 1916 and declares that Thomas was KIA on the 6 August 1915 at Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsular,Turkey.

Two witness statements are presented,

The first from Sargent W French 2133 , 6/7 Batt who stated

''on the 8th August 1915 at Lone Pine many of the 7th Batt were killed and fell into the trenches and were walked over by himself and other. Parties were detailed to get them out and they were laid in an old sap and were buried. Identification discs were not collected as bombs were coming over in hundreds'

The second from Private N Rue 2220,  7th Batt

''Coughlan was destroyed by shell fire on the 6th August 1915 at Lone Pine''. The informant stated he knew Coughlan well.

Due to lack of information of casualties his mother was enquiring as to his whereabouts as late as mid November 1915

Thomas's mother was formally advised of his death  and was granted a pension of 2 pounds per fortnight backdated from 18 March 1916.

His mother caused confusion when she requested a Star of David headstone for her only son as she assummed it had some connection with the Church of England. After it was pointed out that the Star of David headstone was for members of the Jewish faith she asked for it to be replaced by a cross.

Thomas is listed at the Lone Pine Memorial Cemetary at Gallipoli and is also listed on the AWM Honor Roll in Canberra.