Death of Lt Cdr John Stephen Coggins MBE RN

17 Jul 2026 - I have heard the sad news from my MCDOA co-founder David Sandiford that John Coggins crossed the bar early this morning at the age of 87. He had been suffering from cancer for some time.

John qualified as an MCD officer on the 1966 LMCDO course at HMS VERNON as shown here.

Here is John second right during a 40th anniversary reunion of his course at the MCDOA’s annual dinner in November 2006.

Finally, here is John far right during a 50th anniversary reunion at the MCDOA’s dinner in November 2016. This year, of course, would have marked their 60th anniversary.

John had a variety of minewarfare & diving appointments including 1st Lt of HMS NURTON, Commanding Officer of the deep diving ship HMS RECLAIM, MWTO (Mine Warfare Training Officer) as my boss at HMS VERNON and later as David Sandiford’s Deputy SofD. He was appointed an MBE in the 1969 New Year Honours for clearing Japanese torpedoes from an airfield while OIC of the Far East Clearance Diving Team in Hong Kong. He also rendered safe a device attached to the TV/Radio mast during the 1967 Hong Kong leftist riots while dangling from a helicopter.

Some years ago, Mike Gillam provided this insight about John during the period:

During the early sixties, the situation became difficult in Hong Kong owing to a noisy minority intent on making life difficult by planting explosive devices around the city. John Coggins, who was sent out to assist the Army in dealing with the situation, recalls the occasion:

“When I got to Hong Kong I had to report to some pompous Major who always wanted me to march into his office and salute him. I told him the Navy did not do things that way. We never got on that well.

The first homemade bomb I came across was outside a bank. The day before, I was instructed by an Army EOD man who just kicked the homemade bombs to check they were harmless. I decided not to do this so I lassoed it, went round the corner and pulled the string. It went off like a mini atom bomb! I learnt later any bomb outside a bank was genuine! They often left a notice saying, “This is for white pigs only. My people keep clear.” Many of course were false

One day I was patrolling the streets near the Peak when a window opened and a voice said, "What is going on down there?" The sailor accompanying me then shot at him. Fortunately, he missed him and we heard no more but people were told to keep their windows shut!

On another occasion, a bomb was placed in a hole in the wall. The Policeman who was with me said it was not a problem so I blew it up. On the other side of the wall was a very large electrical transformer, now riddled with shrapnel and leaking large amounts of fluid, down a steep incline. As I looked up at the skyscrapers around me, I could see all the lights slowly going out. Fortunately the MoD had immunity and I was never held to blame!

We only ever stayed for two weeks to avoid getting bomb happy. The Army did longer and paid the price!

One day, a bomb was placed on a very tall electrical pylon near the top of the Peak. I said they would need to get a helicopter because I was not going to climb it! The helicopter duly arrived and I did the business (with the current off!). What I did not realise at the time was half of Hong Kong was watching, including the Governor General and the Commodore. The publicity did me no harm.”

It was reported that the most frightening aspect of the task was travelling in a police Land Rover during the rush hour, siren blaring, at full speed, on the wrong side of the road, through red lights. Those were the days!

John returned to the Far East as Fleet B&MD Officer and was appointed an MBE for his efforts that included the clearance of Japanese torpedoes.

John was an avid golfer and I was with him on the day he scored a hole-in-one at Southwick Park. This was us standing together at the RN Divers’ Golf Championships at Southwick Park in 2004 with the late Gerald ‘Pincher’ Martin just behind us.

I am sure all members of our community will join me in extending our sincere condolences to John’s wife Rae, both his sons and the rest of his family.

I will publish funeral details as they become available.