Corporal Herbert Edwin Cosier MM - 6705

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Corporal Herbert Edwin Cosier MM

Service Number: 6705

Military Medal – Recommendation: “This NCO displayed great courage and devotion to duty as Wagon Orderly Corporal under very heavy shell fire on 14/15th May 1917 between the ACS and ADS. Though his ambulance wagon was many times almost struck by shells, and was actually hit by fragments, he carried out his duties with the utmost coolness, reassuring the wounded patients by his example and devotion to them and showing skill and judgement in loading his patients and getting them away with all speed. On many other occasions between the 9th and 22nd may this NCO displayed conscious courage and coolness” – Recommended by A E Shepherd of 8th Field Ambulance on 26th May 1916.

Herbert Edwin Cosier was born in 1890 in Curra Creek near Wellington, New South Wales to Charles and Lydia Cosier and worked as a probational Methodist Minister.

Cosier enlisted on 9 May 1915 at the age of 25 in Sydney with the 8th Australian Field Ambulance of the Australian Army Medical Corps. He embarked for service on 10 November 1915 as a Lance Corporal aboard the A11 HMAT Ascanus.

Whilst with the Field Ambulance, Cosier was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field in July 1917. Later that month, on 28 July 1917, whilst on leave in England, Cosier was ordained by the British Conference at Wesley Chapel in London. Cosier returned to France in August and over the next year was promoted several times reaching the rank of temporary Sergeant in February 1918. 

By the end of the year Cosier had gained an appointment as an army Chaplain, 4th Class and posted to the administrative headquarters where he conducted hospital visitations. On 25 December 1918 he returned to France to serve at the Australian General Base Depot at Havre he was admitted to hospital with the mumps in March 1919.

Less than a month later on 21 April 1919 Chaplain Cosier was sent to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Bulford in England. On the 28 May 1919 Cosier was put on leave and less than a month later returned to Australia per the Miltiades. He disembarked in August 1919, returning home to much fan-fair in Curra Creek on 11 September 1919, and was formally discharged on 30 September 1919. On 2 October 1919, Reverend Cosier was made an Honorary Chaplain, 4th Class, with the relative rank of Captain.

After his return to Australia, Reverand Cosier was appointed as a minister in Queanbeyan where he met and married Milbra Dunlop Taylor. Cosier spent the rest of his life ministering in and around NSW, passing away on 14 November 1948 at Croydon Park at the age of 58. 

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