Coffey’s
greatest honour
On
18 November 1856 Coffey was promoted to sergeant at the discharge of
Sergeant
William, and his good conduct pay was renewed after his promotion. But
now his
greatest honour was to be bestowed. On 5 February 1857 the London
Gazette
announced the institution of the Victoria Cross, which was to be
awarded ‘For
Valour’ in the face of an enemy. Of those NCOs and men of the 34th who
had
received the DCM and Medaille Militaire, only Coffey’s name was
put
forward for the VC, although he was joined by the previously
undecorated
Private Sims who had rescued wounded comrades during the first assault
on the
Redan.
A list of names was presented to
the
Queen for her approval on 15 February, and two days later she made it
known
that she was to present the crosses herself. On 24 February the awards
were
announced in the London Gazette, with Coffey’s given as
follows: ‘For
having, on the 29th March, 1855, thrown a lighted shell, that fell into
the
trench
over the parapet.’
On 12 June the Queen determined that she would make
the presentations fourteen days hence at a Review in Hyde Park, where
as many as
possible
would be able to see and where she would attend on horseback. And so on
26 June
1857 came the parade itself.
