Quartermaster Sergeant William Coupland,
42^nd Highlanders, the Black Watch and
the 3^rd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.

Original Documents Relating to the Military Service of Quartermaster Sergeant William Coupland.

Research on Quartermaster Sergeant William Coupland shows the following general information, dates of rank, campaign service, and army appointments related to his 30 years 8 days (1867-1897) service in the British Army: [1]

Birth & Enlistment:

William Coupland was born in the Parish of Durras, near the Town of Banchory, in the County of Kincardine, Scotland on the 8^th of February of 1851. At the age of 16 years, 1 month, he was enlisted "by Special Authority, dated Horse Guards, 2^nd March 1867", in the 42^nd Highlanders at Aberdeen at 10 o'clock on the 7^th March of 1867 by Colour Sergeant James Butlers of the 42^nd Highlanders. He was assigned the regimental number 1539.

Physical Description:

William Coupland's physical description at the time of his enlistment shows that he was 5 feet ¼ inches tall, had a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair. No weight is listed. He had a chest measurement of 31 inches. His trade was listed as a labourer. His religious denomination was not listed.

Medical Information:

His medical record shows him as fit for service on enlistment. There are no other medical records included with his soldiers documents.

Army Promotion & Education:

William Coupland was appointed to Drummer on the 7^th of April 1867, to duty as a Private on the 17^th of March 1869, and back to Drummer on the 3^rd of August 1870.. He would rise through the ranks at a normal pace. He was promoted to Corporal on the 9^th of May 1874. On the 1^st of April 1876 he was appointed to Lance Sergeant and was then promoted to Sergeant on the 1^st of November 1876. He earned his 3^rd Class Certificate of Education in 1871 and his 2^nd Class Certificate in 1874.

While stationed at Malta, Sergeant Coupland re-engaged to complete 21 years service on the 9^th of December 1876. On the 13^th of November 1879 he transferred as a Sergeant to the Royal North Lincoln Militia as service number 364. He was promoted to Colour Sergeant on the 1 ^st of July 1882. He was granted permission to continue in the service beyond 21 years, authority dated the 20^th of March 1888. On the 30^th of January 1890 he was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant in the 3^rd Battalion of the Lincoln Regiment.

Statement of Conduct:

William Coupland received his first Good Conduct pay on the 8^th of February 1871 and a 2^nd Good Conduct pay on the 8^th of February 1875. At the time of his discharge, had he not been promoted, he would have been in possession of his sixth Good Conduct pay which would have been awarded on the 8^th of February 1895. For his service a Long Service Good Conduct Medal was awarded to Colour Sergeant Coupland in July of 1882.

Overseas & Campaign Service:

Quartermaster Sergeant Coupland's overseas and campaign service includes the following. He served as a Drummer with the 42^nd Highlanders in the Gold Coast on the Ashantee Expedition from the 3^rd of December 1873 to the 22^nd of March 1874. He earned the Ashantee War campaign medal with no bar. He was lucky to have survived the climate and disease during his service in Africa. After campaign service in Ashantee he served in garrison duties at Malta from the 14^th of November 1874 to the 17^th of July 1878, at Cyprus from the 18^th of July 1878 to the 18^th of November 1878, and at Gibraltar from the 19^th of November 1878 to the 18^th of June 1879. He served a total of 4 years and 317 days overseas service.

Marriage Information:

On the 22^nd of July 1879, Sergeant Coupland married Ellen Jane Hardesty, a widow, at St. Mary's in Southampton. No children are listed.

Discharge Statement:

Quartermaster Sergeant Coupland, after three months notice, was discharge in consequence of having completed 30 years and 8 days service on the 15 ^th of March 1897. On discharge, Quartermaster Sergeant Coupland's height is shown as 5 foot 11 inches, a gain of 10 and ¾ inches from his height at the time of his enlistment. At the time of discharge his character was not recorded but his service shows that he was a very good and efficient non commissioned officer. His intended residence at the time of discharge is not listed.

While a pensioner at Chelsea Hospital he was awarded the medal for Meritorious Service by Army Order 58 of 1924 for his life spent as a soldier of the British Army. The letter of presentation states that the King grants an annuity of 10 pounds from the 14^th of July 1923 to Quartermaster Coupland, "as reward for his long and highly meritorious service." His name is still noted in the Army Estimates of 1926, the last year names of annuitants were recorded.

Quartermaster Sergeant William Coupland's medals include the Ashantee Medal without clasp, named to, "", the Victorian Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal, 3^rd type, named to, "" and an Army Meritorious Service Medal, George V, named to "". Included with the medals are Quartermaster Coupland's original parchment discharge documents and two letters related to the presentation of the Meritorious Service Medal.