The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3064) Private Michael Thomas Coogan, 58th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (3064) Private Michael Thomas Coogan, 58th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

3064 Private Michael Thomas Coogan, 58th Battalion, AIF
KIA: 19 July 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Michael Thomas Coogan.

Michael Thomas Coogan was born in March 1889 in Corio, Victoria, the eldest of seven children born to Michael and Mary Coogan.

Known as “Tom” to his family and friends, Coogan lived in Lara, to the north of Geelong, where he worked as a farm labourer.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 July 1915 and started training at a local training depot. In November 1915, he sailed from Melbourne, bound for Egypt as part of the 7th reinforcements of the 21st Infantry Battalion. He did not take part in the Gallipoli campaign, and was instead in Egypt for a period known as the “doubling of the AIF”, during which Australian units were expanded and reorganised in preparation for service on the Western Front and in Palestine. During this period, Coogan transferred to the 60th Battalion, before joining the newly formed 58th Battalion on 15 March 1916. This unit formed part of the 15th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.

In June 1916 Coogan and the 58th Battalion sailed from Alexandria in Egypt to Marseilles in France, and within days of arrival were behind the front lines at Steenbecque, near the French-Belgian border.

Coogan and the 58th Battalion spent the next fortnight training behind the lines and manning front-line trenches, helping to improve drains and defences, and sometimes coming under enemy artillery fire.

On 19 July 1916, the 58th Battalion took part in the battle of Fromelles, Australia’s first major infantry battle on the Western Front. Australian and British troops took part in a joint assault on an area of trenches surrounding a bulge in the German lines known as the “Sugar Loaf”.

The battle was preceded by a seven-hour long artillery bombardment of the German lines. Though successful in some part of the lines, the bombardment failed to damage the German defences in front of the 15th Brigade’s line of attack. Soon after the bombardment ended, German defenders were able to man their guns in anticipation of the Australian attack.

Those who did attack came under extremely heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. The Australian 5th Division suffered over 5,500 casualties in this single battle.

Coogan was initially reported missing in action after the battle. It was not until September 1917, over a year later, that his family received news that he had been officially declared killed in action.

The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but he was likely killed by German machine-gun fire when elements of his unit were ordered to take part in an advance late in the main attack.

He was 27 years old, and had been in France for less than a month.

With no known grave, his name is commemorated at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery near Fromelles.

Private Michael Thomas Coogan’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Michael Thomas Coogan, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

David Sutton
Historian, Military History Section