Telegraph obituary for Lt Cdr John Stephen Coggins MBE RN

12 Sep 2026 - As ever, I am grateful to Telegraph naval obituarist Capt Peter Hore RN for agreeing to pen this obituary for my old boss, MCD colleague, friend and golf companion John Coggins.

Over the past few years, Peter has been extremely cooperative in writing tributes to members of our small community for publication in the Daily Telegraph.  Other examples have included (in alphabetical order):

CPO(D) Stephen 'Darby' Allan

Cdr Philip Arthur Balink-White MBE RN

Lt Cdr ‘Dougie’ Barlow RN

Dr John Bevan

Lt Cdr John Bridge GC GM* RN

Lt Noel Cashford MBE RNVR

Lt Colin Churcher MBE RN

Lt Cdr Peter Cobby BEM RN

Lt Cdr John Stephen Coggins MBE RN

Lt Cdr Brian Dutton DSO QGM RN

Lt Cdr 'Uncle Bill' Filer MBE GM RN

Lt Cdr Ian Fraser VC DSC RD* RNR

Lt Cdr John ‘Futch’ Futcher MBE RN

Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir John 'Jab' Harrison

Val Hempleman

Ldg Sea Sydney Knowles BEM

Lt Cdr Bruce Mackay RN

Cdr Peter Messervy MBE GM RN

AB Johnny Payne BEM

Capt Ian Powe RN

Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir John 'Doc' Rawlins KBE, FRCP, FRAeS

Lt Cdr 'Robbie' Robinson MBE RN

Lt Arthur 'Bubs' Russell MBE RNVR

Lt Cdr Dennis Selwood OBE RN

WO(D) Terry Settle MBE QGM BEM

Lt Cdr Harry Wardle RN

Lt George Wookey MBE RN