The following official letter of condolence was sent to Sir John Jocelyn Coghill, after his son's death
" Sir, — I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to inform you that his Royal Highness perused with melancholy interest
the report forwarded to hira by Lord Chelmsford from Colonel Glyn,
showing how the Queen's colour of the 1st Battalion 24th Foot would have fallen into the hands of the enemy but for the gallant behaviour of your son,
Lieutenant Coghill, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Melvill, of that regiment. His Royal Highness in communicating this dispatch desires me to assure you of his sincere sympathy with you in the loss of your son, whose gallant death in the successful endeavour to save the colour of his regiment has gained the admiration of the army. It is gratifying to his Royal Highness to inform you that if your son had survived his noble effort it was her Majesty's intention to confer upon him the Victoria Cross, and a notification to that effect will be made in the London Gazette."
I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant,
M. A. Dillon, Major General.
To Sir JosCELYN Coghill, Bart."
Source: The family of Coghill.
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