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The Arnsby Family Tree Newsletter 9
Sgt. Major Cornelius Coughlan, V.C. Dedication
Saturday. August 7, 2004
Aughavale Cemetery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Connaught Ranger, Laurence Thermes 1 Bn, Sligo, at the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Minister of Defence Michael Smith unveils the headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
An Irish Lebanon Veterans Association lays a wreath
Photo courtesy Ken Wright

On Saturday, August 7, 2004 the Minister for Defence for Ireland dedicated the grave of Sgt Major Cornelius Coughlan, V.C. and unveiled a headstone for the previously unmarked grave.

His Excellency The British Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Stuart Eldon CMG, OBE and Mrs Eldon arrived at Aughavale Cemetery where they were met by Capt. Donal Buckley (Retd) and escorted to the VIP area.

The Minister for Defence for Ireland, Michael Smith, arrived at Aughavale Cemetery and was met by OC 18 Bn RDF (Reserve Defence Force) Commandant Peadar O'Maoláin and Acting GOC 4 Western Brigade Colonel Senan Downesand was invited to inspect a Guard of Honour.

The Guard of Honour, 50 strong, located 30 meters beyond the entrance to the cemetery, was commanded by 2/Lieutenant Kelly and was drawn from 'A' (Westport) Company, 18 Infantry Battalion RDF.

Father Kilcoyne R.C (Tuam, secretary to Archbishop Neary) and Rev Hastings Church of Ireland (Westport) conducted grave side prayers followed by a talk about Cornelius Coughlan, V.C. and military heritage by Capt Buckley (Ret'd).

Michael Smith, the Minister for Defence, then dedicated and unveiled the headstone followed by ONE organisation of National ex Servicemen and women Castlebar Branch and Roger Casement Air Corps Branch and various Regimental Associations including Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland), Connaught Rangers Association, Royal Irish Rangers Belfast Branch (UK), Leinster Regiment, Mayo War Memorial Committe Mr P.J. Clarke, IUNVA (Irish United Nations Veterans Association), Royal Naval Association Northern Ireland Submariners Branch (UK), Irish National Services Association (UK) and Kings Rifle Brigade Royal Green Jackets (UK) Irish Lebanon Veterans who laid wreaths on the grave.

A volley was fired by the Connaught Rangers re-enactors and Last Post and Reveille were sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. The bugle is a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille.

Then the Colour Parties; drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.

The British Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Stuart Eldon CMG, OBE said "It symbolises the development of the relationship between Britain and Ireland, the new willingness to discuss things which were not so easily discussed at all and the willingness to think about the extent of our shared history".

A reception was held at the Tavern in Murrisk village, four miles west of Aughavale.

Military Heritage Tours Ltd.

Cornelius Coughlan's famly tree

 
     
Westport

 

Guard of Honour

 

Guard of Honour

Westport town event sign
Photo courtesy MHTL

Guard of Honour
Commanded by 2/Lieutenant Kelly, drawn from 'A' (Westport) Company, 18 Infantry Battalion RDF.
Photo courtesy R. Kelly
Guard of Honour
Commanded by 2/Lieutenant Kelly, drawn from 'A' (Westport) Company, 18 Infantry Battalion RDF.

Photo courtesy R. Kelly
     
Guard of Honour
Guard of Honour
(Ret'd) Capt. Donal Buckley
Photo by Cormac Ó Cionnaith
Guard of Honour
Commanded by 2/Lieutenant Kelly, drawn from 'A' (Westport) Company, 18 Infantry Battalion RDF.

Photo courtesy R. Kelly
Guard of Honour
Commanded by 2/Lieutenant Kelly, drawn from 'A' (Westport) Company, 18 Infantry Battalion RDF inspection by the
Minister of Defence for Ireland, Michael Smith
Photo courtesy R. Kelly

Capt. Donal Buckley (Retd)
Photo courtesy Cormac Ó Cionnaith

     

 

(Ret'd) Capt. Donal Buckley  Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

Michale Smith, Minister of Defence for Ireland

 

Michael Smith, Minister of Defence for Ireland, speaking at the dedication ceremony for Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

Capt. Donal Buckley (Retd)
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
 
     

 

Michale Smith, Minister of Defence for Ireland

Michael Smith, Minister of Defence for Ireland
unveils the headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Photo by Ken Wright

 

Minister of Defence Michael Smith unveils the headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
Photo courtesy Cormac Ó Cionnaith
Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
unveils the headstone
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
unveils the headstone
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
     

 

Minister of Defence Michael Smith unveils the headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

Minister of Defence Michael Smith unveils the headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

 

Representatives of various regiments prepare to lay a wreath.  Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
unveils the headstone
Photo courtesy Cormac Ó Cionnaith
Michael Smith
Minister of Defence for Ireland
unveils the headstone
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Representatives of various regiments prepare to lay a wreath
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
     

 

Representatives of various regiments prepare to lay a wreath.  Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

An Irish Lebanon Veterans Association lays a wreath
Photo courtesy Ken Wright

 

Representatives of various regiments after each laying a wreath on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.  Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

Representatives of various regiments prepare to lay a wreath
Photo by Ken Wright
An Irish Lebanon Veterans Association lays a wreath
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Representatives of various regiments after laying wreaths
Photo by Ken Wright
     

 

Wreaths laid on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

Wreaths laid on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.

 

Connaught Rangers
The wreaths
Photo by Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
The wreaths
Photo courtesy MHTL
Connaught Ranger re-enactors
Photo courtesy MHTL
     

 

Connaught Ranger re-enactors march toward the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C. Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

Connaught Ranger, Laurence Thermes 1 Bn, Sligo, at the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C. Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

 

Connaught Ranger re-enactors at the ceremony to dedicate the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.  Photo courtesy Ken Wright.

Connaught Ranger re-enactors
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Connaught Ranger, Laurence Thermes 1 Bn, Sligo, at the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright

Connaught Ranger re-enactors
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)

     
Connaught Rangers
Connaught Ranger re-enactors at the ceremony to unveil a headstone on the grave of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Connaught Ranger re-enactors
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Connaught Ranger re-enactors
Photo courtesy MHTL
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
     
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille Photo by Ken Wright
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo by Ken Wright
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille Photo by Ken Wright

The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy MHTL

The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy MHTL
     
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille Photo by Ken Wright
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations. 
Photo by Ken Wright
The Last Post and Reveille sounded by an Army bugler and drummer, Sgt's McNamara & Mahon. Bugler played a Connaught Ranger bugle kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. John Basquille
Photo courtesy Alan Lewis
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
     
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.  Photo by Ken Wright

 

The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations. 
Photo by Ken Wright
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
The Colour Parties, drawn from the ONE, RBL, Disbanded Regiments Associations and other Regimental Associations.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
     

 

The headstone unveiled. Photo by Ken Wright

 

 

The headstone unveiled.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
     
Attendees view the headstone and wreaths. Photo by Ken Wright.
A view of the crowd.
A view of the crowd.
Attendees view the headstone and wreaths.
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
A view of the crowd.
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
A view of the crowd.
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
     
Mr. Andrew McKinley M.P.,Maj Sean Murphy, British Army Retd, the Earl of Trim, RAF Retd and Colonel Harvey Bicker, British Army Retd.
Descendants of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Pauline McGowan, Frances Daly, Eileen Myles, Patricia O'Callaghan
Photo by Ken Wright
Descendants of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Pauline McGowan, Frances Daly, Eileen Myles, Patricia O'Callaghan
Photo by Ken Wright
Mr. Andrew McKinley M.P.,
Maj Sean Murphy, British Army Retd, the Earl of Trim, RAF Retd and Colonel Harvey Bicker, British Army Retd.
Photo courtesy Capt Tony Martin RDF (Retd)
Descendants of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Pauline McGowan, Frances Daly, Eileen Myles, Patricia O'Callaghan
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
Descendants of Cornelius Coughlan, V.C.
Pauline McGowan, Frances Daly, Eileen Myles, Patricia O'Callaghan
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
     
Major Murphy British Army (Retd) and Capt Buckley Irish Army (Retd)

 

Interviewing the Ambassador

Colonel Cummings, Defence Attaché, British Embassy , Dublin and Major Clarke RAMC 14th Army.

Major Murphy British Army (Retd) and Capt Buckley Irish Army (Retd)
Photo courtesy Ken Wright

Interviewing the British Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Stuart Eldon CMG, OBE
Photo courtesy MHTL
Colonel Cummings, Defence Attaché, British Embassy , Dublin and Major Clarke RAMC 14th Army.
Photo courtesy MHTL
     
Liam Murphy (Chairman Irish United Nations Veterans Association) and Paddy Gannon (Irish United Veterans Association)
A veteran reflects... Photo by Ken Wright
 
Liam Murphy (Chairman Irish United Nations Veterans Association) and Paddy Gannon (Irish United Veterans Association)
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
A veteran reflects...
Photo courtesy Ken Wright
 
 

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