William Coffey (VC)
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". William Coffey VC DCM (5 August 1829 – 13 July 1875), born in Knocklong, County Limerick, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was 25 years old, and a private in the 34th Regiment (later The Border Regiment), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 March 1855 at Sebastopol, the Crimea, Private Coffey threw a live shell, which had fallen into a trench, over the parapet and thus saved many lives.[1]
Further information
Coffey was posted to India fighting in the Indian Mutiny. He achieved the rank of sergeant. It was reported that he died by suicide (shot himself) in the Army drill shed Sheffield, 13 July 1875. However his death certificate shows he died of dysentery at Stonegravels, Chesterfield. He was buried in Spital cemetery, Chesterfield. Originally he was buried in an unmarked, common plot but in 1970 a stone, provided by the Border Regiment, was put on his grave following a service.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at Cumbria's Museum of Military Life Carlisle Castle, Cumbria, England.
References
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Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
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- Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
External links
- Pages with script errors
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- Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross
- British Army personnel of the Crimean War
- British military personnel of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
- Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Border Regiment soldiers
- Military personnel from County Limerick
- 1829 births
- 1875 deaths
- 19th-century Irish people
- Irish soldiers in the British Army
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross