Cornelius Coughlan
Cornelius Coughlan (27 June 1828 – 14 February 1915) was an Irish soldier in the British Army who received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy.
He served as a Colour Sergeant in the 75th Regiment of Foot (later The Gordon Highlanders). During the Indian Mutiny, at Delhi, actions on 8 June and 18 July 1857 earned him the VC.
Under heavy fire, he and three others went into a Serai occupied by many enemies to help remove a severely wounded Private Corbett. He also encouraged a party that hesitated to charge down a lane at Subzee Mundee, then entered an enemy-filled enclosure and destroyed the opposition. On the same occasion, he returned under crossfire to collect dhoolies and carry off the wounded. These deeds impressed the officers of his regiment, and Queen Victoria sent him a personal letter praising his bravery.
After India, Coughlan served about twenty years with the Connaught Rangers in Ireland, reaching the rank of sergeant-major.
He died in Westport, County Mayo, and was buried at Aughavale Cemetery near Murrisk. His grave was unmarked until 2004, when a headstone was placed.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:26 (CET).