British Officer, Zulu War, Victoria Cross Awardee. Lt. Coghill was serving as Aide-de-Camp to Col. Glyn of the 24th Regiment of Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regiment / South Wales Borderers) during the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. During the battle of Isandhlwana, January 22, 1879, when the British force was about to be overrun, Lt. Coghill, having a knee injury and unable to walk, cut his way out on horseback. He reached the Buffalo River, where he found Lt. Melvill in the water, attempting the save the Queen's Colour of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment. Both men lost their horses and could only struggle to the far bank and up the slope, where they were surrounded and killed by the Zulus, after having exhausted their ammunition. Their bodies were later discovered side-by-side, and they were buried together where they fell. Both received the first two posthumous awards of the Victoria Cross on January 15, 1907.
British Officer, Zulu War, Victoria Cross Awardee. Lt. Coghill was serving as Aide-de-Camp to Col. Glyn of the 24th Regiment of Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regiment / South Wales Borderers) during the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. During the battle of Isandhlwana, January 22, 1879, when the British force was about to be overrun, Lt. Coghill, having a knee injury and unable to walk, cut his way out on horseback. He reached the Buffalo River, where he found Lt. Melvill in the water, attempting the save the Queen's Colour of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment. Both men lost their horses and could only struggle to the far bank and up the slope, where they were surrounded and killed by the Zulus, after having exhausted their ammunition. Their bodies were later discovered side-by-side, and they were buried together where they fell. Both received the first two posthumous awards of the Victoria Cross on January 15, 1907.
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