COGGAN, Clarence George

Clarence was the fifth of eight children born to James and Emma Coggan of Inverell. After attending Inverell Public School he became a Coach Driver, operating the Gum Flat mail coach. He was a well known Rugby Union player and a prominent member of the Inverell Austral Band.

He enlisted and took the Oath at Inverell in September 1915. Clarence joined the 6th Reinforcements of the 30th Battalion, sailing from Australia on HMAT A71 Nestor in April 1916. During six months of training in England he was a member of the Battalion Band. At the beginning of January 1917 his Battalion arrived in France during one of the coldest winters experienced there.

Private Clarence George Coggan was Killed in Action on 10 October 1917 at Passchendale, Belgium and buried at Dochy Farm Cemetery near Ypres. He was just twenty three years old, and married with one child. From January 1918 his wife was granted a pension of two pounds ($4) per fortnight with an additional allowance of one pound ($2) per fornight for her child.

Private Coggan's name is recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll and the Inverell Cenotaph. In 1919 he was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial Kurrajong tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade on the Glen Innes Road.

Photo: courtesy of family