William Cosgrove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Cosgrove
VC MSM
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| Born | 1 October 1888 Aghada, County Cork |
| Died | 14 July 1936 (aged 47) Millbank, London |
| Buried |
Upper Aghada
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1909–1935 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | Royal Munster Fusiliers Northumberland Fusiliers Indian Territorial Force |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross.png){kind=small} Meritorious Service Medal |
William Cosgrove (born October 1, 1888 – died July 14, 1936) was a brave Irish soldier. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy. This special medal is given to soldiers from the British Army and countries in the Commonwealth. He also received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Contents
Early Life and Army Start
William Cosgrove was born in Aghada, County Cork, Ireland, on October 1, 1888. His parents were Michael and Mary Cosgrove. He had four brothers and one sister. When William was young, his father moved to Australia for a while, but later came back.
His mother moved with the children to a small house in Peafield. William went to school at the National School in Ballinrostig. He started working as an apprentice butcher in Whitegate. Part of his job was delivering meat every morning to Fort Carlisle. This fort is now called Fort Davis. It was at Fort Carlisle that William decided to join the army.
Serving in the First World War
William Cosgrove joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers on March 24, 1909. His army number was 8980. When the First World War began, his battalion was stationed far away in Rangoon, Burma. This was a common practice for regular army groups.
On November 21, 1914, his unit left Rangoon. William, who was now a Corporal, arrived in England on January 10, 1915. They were still wearing their light Indian uniforms, which were not suitable for the cold weather. His battalion then joined the 86th Brigade of the 29th Division (United Kingdom). They were getting ready for a big landing operation in a place called the Dardanelles.
Bravery at Gallipoli
On April 25, 1915, William Cosgrove's unit, the 1st Munsters, arrived at 'V' beach in Cape Helles. They were on a ship called 'River Clyde'. When they tried to get off the ship, they faced heavy machine gun fire from Turkish soldiers hiding nearby. Many soldiers were hit, and those who made it ashore could not move forward.
The next day, the soldiers decided to cut through the enemy's barbed wire fences. The navy's bombs had not destroyed them. It was during this attack that Corporal Cosgrove showed amazing bravery. This act earned him the Victoria Cross.
Here is how William Cosgrove described what happened:
"Our job was to rush forward and face the trenches, which were full of rifles and machine guns. We had to destroy the wire fences. Fifty men were chosen for this job. Poor Sergeant-Major Bennett led us, but he was killed by a bullet to the brain.
I then took charge and told the others to follow me. Terrible gunfire came from a nearby village, adding to the bullets from the trenches. Some of us got close to the wire. We tried to cut it with pliers, but it was like trying to cut a big stone tower with small scissors. He then grabbed the wooden posts holding the barbed wire. I rushed at the first one, pulled and strained, and it came into my arms. I think there was loud cheering when they saw what I was doing. But all I heard was the sound of bullets and saw dirt flying up where they hit. I can't tell you how many I pulled up. I did my best, and the boys around me were just as good as me.
William was also wounded during this brave action. He was promoted to Sergeant. Because of his wound, he did not fight in any more battles. This injury also played a part in his death years later.
Receiving the Victoria Cross
William Cosgrove's Victoria Cross award was officially announced on August 23, 1915. The announcement said:
"For most conspicuous bravery leading this section with great dash during our attack from the beach to the east of Cape Helles on the Turkish positions on 26 April 1915. Cpl Cosgrove on this occasion pulled down the posts of the enemy’s high wire entanglements single-handed, notwithstanding a terrible fire from both front and flank, thereby greatly contributing to the successful clearing of the heights."
On April 26, 1915, during the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey, Corporal Cosgrove led his section. They were attacking Turkish positions near the Sedd el Bahr fort. Barbed wire fences stopped their advance. Corporal Cosgrove, who was described as an "Irish Giant," bravely pulled down the strong posts of the enemy's wire fences by himself. He did this even though there was heavy gunfire from all sides, and officers and men were falling around him. His amazing courage helped a lot in clearing the high ground. Thanks to his actions, the Turkish counter-attacks were held off.
A surgeon named P. Burrowes-Kelly described him as an "Irish giant." Someone from Aghada who knew him said he was "a very shy man who hated to be fussed over."
Later Years and Passing
After the First World War, Cosgrove moved between different army units. In 1918, he transferred to the Royal Fusiliers. In 1920, he joined the Leinster Regiment. Then, in 1922, he moved to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
In 1928, he became a Staff Sergeant Instructor for the Indian Territorial Force. He returned home in 1935, planning to retire. However, he became ill and was admitted to Millbank hospital. He was discharged before he was fully recovered. After a short visit home in Cork, he went back to London. He was admitted to Middlesex hospital and later transferred back to Millbank hospital in London. William Cosgrove passed away there on July 14, 1936, at the age of 47.
A Soldier's Farewell
The Royal Munster Fusilier's Old Comrades Association Journal wrote about his funeral:
His body was taken from London to Fishguard by road. From there, it traveled to Upper Aghada, County Cork, in Ireland, for burial in his hometown. About five hundred members of the Old Comrades Association of the Royal Munster Fusiliers met the ship at Penrose Quay. They formed a guard of honor as the coffin was carried from the boat to the waiting hearse. A special salute was sounded, and the guard of honor stood at attention with their heads uncovered. The procession then left Penrose Quay and went by road to Aghada. Captain D. D. Sheehan of the Royal Munster Fusiliers was in charge of the Comrades.
When the coffin reached Upper Aghada, members of the Old Comrades Association from Cork and his hometown carried it to the family burial ground. It was a very moving sight when the Last Post was played, and other former soldiers stood at attention. Many people were visibly touched. After the burial, a beautiful wreath was placed on the grave on behalf of the Association. This simple ceremony marked the end of a great Irish soldier's life, "An Irish giant… a shy man who hated to be fussed over."
On June 16, 1940, the Old Comrades Association of the Royal Munster Fusiliers placed a memorial over his grave.
His Medals
In 1972, William Cosgrove's Victoria Cross medal was sold for a record price of £2,300 to a private collector. When asked about the high price, the auctioneer said, "When one buys a gallantry medal, it is not just the medal one buys, but the act that won it."
William Cosgrove's Victoria Cross and his other medals were sold again at an auction by Dix Noonan Webb on September 22, 2006. This auction was called "The world's most valuable auction of orders, decorations and medals." A total of £1,965,010 was spent by 305 different buyers. This was the highest amount ever made by any coin or medal auction in the UK. The highest price that day, £180,000, was paid by a collector for a group of six medals related to the Gallipoli landings. This group included the Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant William Cosgrove of the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
