Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Private Owen Leslie Coughlan, 25, was a compositor working for Matthews and Co Printing Works in Goulburn Street, Sydney. He enlisted at Holsworthy on 20 August 1915, giving his religion as Salvation Army and nominating his father, William Owen Coughlan of Griffith Street, Albury NSW, as his next-of-kin.
Coughlan embarked on 20 December 1915 on the Suevic, arriving in Egypt in January 1916. Moving on to France, he disembarked at Marseilles and was transported by train to the ‘nursery sector’ of the Front in the far north of France. A letter from Coughlan to his parents was published in The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express on 2 June 1916, page 31, describing his journey through France to the Front.
Coughlan was in the 2nd Battalion for four months before being killed in action on 24 July 1916 in the first few days of the savage fighting around Pozières. His body was never found, therefore his name was inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
A memorial service was held for Coughlan in the Albury Salvation Army Barracks (The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times, 14 August 1916, page 3). It is unclear who put his name forward for the Auburn War Memorial.
Coughlan’s younger brother, 2714 Sergeant Herbert William Coughlan, was 21 on enlistment. He also gave his religion as Salvation Army. He had a distinguished record in the AIF on both Gallipoli and the Western Front for a total just short of four years. Herbert Coughlan returned to Australia on 16 May 1919, married Miss Nellie Rushbrook and settled back into Albury, returning to his job in the hardware department of Mates country department store and to his role as bandmaster of the Albury Salvation Army band.
When their father, Owen Cunningham Coughlan, died in 1919, age 53, he was buried in the Albury Pioneers Cemetery. On his tombstone his wife added the statement:
‘Also our dear son Pte O L Coughlan 2nd Battalion AIF
Killed in action 24th July 1916 Aged 24 years
Until the day dawns and the shadows flee away’
Owen Coughlan is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
