COFFIN ISLAND ~ Oileán na gCónragh
(On google maps: Illannagonragh).
This tiny island, really only a clump land of around two acres, roughly the size of a soccer pitch, lies between Cruit Island and Kincasslagh.
You can get to the little island by walking from Cruit Island when the tide is completely out. Check locally for safest times.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a google map.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a google map.
EDMUND BRIAN DOHERTY MEMORIAL
Coffin Island is mainly know, indeed only known to many, as the place where there stands a memorial to a man called Edmund Brian Doherty.
But who was Edmund Brian Doherty and why is there a memorial to him there?
Edmund Brian Doherty, Brian to his family and friends, was born in on the 20th of February, 1918 in Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. His father, James, was stationed there working as a customs officer for the British Civil Service. He was later awarded an MBE (1933). His mother Genesta was a school teacher. They later returned to the UK and their homebase was the Isle of Wight. James came from Belcruit, not far from Coffin Island where in later years he would have the monument to his son erected. |
Brian joined the RAF and was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner but on the 12th of April, 1940, at only 21 years of age, the Vickers Wellington Mc 1c on which he was part of a mission on was shot down by a pilot of a Lufftwaffe Messerschmitt, his body lost at sea.
There were five others on that fateful flight and all died that day. All the bodies were lost at sea except for one of the pilots, Sgt. Geoffrey Goad whose body was recovered for burial. To the left here is a photograph of Brian in his RAF uniform. |
From the family's local newspaper at the time of Brian's loss.
From the Aviation Safety Network:
"Date: Friday 12 April 1940 Time: 16:10 LT
Vickers Wellington Mk 1c
Owner/operator: 149 Sqn RAF
Registration: P9266 MSN: OJ-F
Fatalities: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: at position 58'45 - Norway
Phase: Combat Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Vickers Wellington Mk.1c P9266 (OJ-F), 149 Squadron: Lost on combat operations (officially "failed to return from air operations off Southern Norway") 12 April 1940. The aircraft left RAF Mildenhall at 11:53 LT on an operation to find enemy shipping along the Norwegian coast. While cruising off Stavanger, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf.110 and crashed into the sea, killing all six occupants. The Wellington was last seen at 16.10 hours at sea level, at position 58'45"N, 05'30"E approximately 20 km off Egersund, Rogaland.
Cpl Langridge was the first airman of RNZAF to lose his life on an operational flight whilst detached to an overseas location.
Sgt Goad was intially buried in Haramsoy. Reinterred 24 April 1946.
Crew
Pilot: 563876 Sgt Geoffrey Edmund Goad - Trondheim (Stavne) Cemetery Plot A Row V British E 4.
2nd Pilot: 564824 Sgt Frederick Albert Woodcock - Runnymede Memorial Panel 21.
Observer: 530080 Sgt Roy Fox Vickery - Runnymede Memorial Panel 20.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: NZ/37156 Cpl Jack Henry Langridge RNZAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 28.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: 627157 AC1 Edmund Brian Doherty - Runnymede Memorial Panel 25.
Air Gunner: 630142 AC2 James Henry - Runnymede Memorial Panel 26.
AC.1 Edmund Brian Doherty is also Commemorated on the Ryde School War Memorial and the Ryde Borough War Memorial, Ryde, Isle of Wight."
THE MEMORIAL
The memorial can be seen from the mainland off Cruit Island and Cruit Island itself.
It stands approximately 12' / 3.65 meteres high and has a cross on top and three panels, which seem to be made of marble, set into it.
The top panel reads:
PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
Per ardua ad astra (Latin) is the official motto of the Royal Air Force and means “through adversity (or struggle) to the stars”.
The middle panel reads:
THIS ISLAND HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE REV. HUGO BONAR, AND DEDICATED TO THE LOVING MEMORY OF EDMUND BRIAN DOHERTY, AGED 21 YEARS, MISSING AFTER A FLIGHT TO NORWAY ON THE 12TH OF APRIL 1940.
"I BARE YOU ON EAGLES WINGS AND BROUGHT YOU UNTO MYSELF."
The lower panel reads:
MAY THIS CAIRN BE A BLESSING TO ALL WHO PASS, AND A BEACON TO GUIDE THEM SAFELY BACK TO THEIR HOMES AND DEAR ONES.
It stands approximately 12' / 3.65 meteres high and has a cross on top and three panels, which seem to be made of marble, set into it.
The top panel reads:
PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
Per ardua ad astra (Latin) is the official motto of the Royal Air Force and means “through adversity (or struggle) to the stars”.
The middle panel reads:
THIS ISLAND HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE REV. HUGO BONAR, AND DEDICATED TO THE LOVING MEMORY OF EDMUND BRIAN DOHERTY, AGED 21 YEARS, MISSING AFTER A FLIGHT TO NORWAY ON THE 12TH OF APRIL 1940.
"I BARE YOU ON EAGLES WINGS AND BROUGHT YOU UNTO MYSELF."
The lower panel reads:
MAY THIS CAIRN BE A BLESSING TO ALL WHO PASS, AND A BEACON TO GUIDE THEM SAFELY BACK TO THEIR HOMES AND DEAR ONES.
Click to enlarge any of the photographs of the panels below.
With thanks to members of Brian's family who shared with me the photographs of Brian.