Wilfred Jasper Coghlan

COGHLAN, Wilfred Jasper- – – – – SPC 1899

DoB:- – 1888, VIC

Father:- – James Coghlan

Mother:- – Mary Jane, nee Cox, 117 Doveton Street South, Ballarat

Service No:– 11686

Rank:- – Corporal, Driver

Unit:- – 3rd Division Supply Column

Wilfred Coghlan enlisted on 27 March 1916, an unmarried man aged 28 years. He was five feet nine and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His occupation was labourer. He embarked at South Melbourne aboard the Afric, and disembarked at Southampton on 24 July 1916.

While still in England undertaking further training, Private Coghlan was made Acting Corporal in April 1916. He proceeded overseas to France as the Driver in the 3rd Division Supply Column in November 1916. He was wounded in the field in France on 13 April 1918, but was returned to his unit by August of that year.

He was granted six months leave from 21 May to 20 November 1919 in order to return to Australia (via America) at his own expense. It is not clear from his war record why this occurred. He was discharged from the AIF on 25 December 1919.

In 1920, Wilfred Coghlan married Ursula Marjorie Lindley at the age of 32. They had no children. Wilfred died in 1932, aged 44 years, in Ballarat.