John G. S. Coghill

[5] In the middle of his studies the Crimean War broke out and he volunteered as a surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, he sailed out on HMS Conflict, part of the Baltic fleet, mostly operating between Memel and Riga.

[6] He was able to secure an apprenticeship with Sir James Young Simpson, with whom he lived for two years, to further his studies in obstetrics, before moving to Glasgow in 1859.

In 1861 he and his wife departed for China where he became municipal medical officer of Shanghai and consulting physician to the General Hospital there.

[3] In 1868, he undertook a journey to the Great Wall of China, a trip of considerable length and difficulty and which he did write about later: ‘I left Peking at noon of the 12 October 1868 by the Ta-ling Mun or north-west gate with a party of friends mounted on the excellent native ponies with three double mule carts containing our servants and baggage.’ After a three day journey he continues: ‘Thursday we were astir early anxious to gain a closer inspection of the Great Wall which we had had in sight most of the previous day .

The view was superb and the noble wall with its frequent towers could be traced with the glass for miles following the highest ridge of the mountain range east and west.’ He comments particularly on ‘the beauty of its materials and workmanship and the extraordinary engineering feats overcome in its construction.

[10][11] Failing to be elected as chair of obstetrics at the University of Edinburgh in 1875, a position which was controversially given to James Young Simpson (the nephew of the above mentioned Professor), Coghill and family moved to Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight.

In 1888 he had the honour of receiving Queen Victoria on her visit to the hospital (his young son Harold ‘in Highland dress’ presented her with a bouquet).

The grave is marked by a pale granite Celtic cross and lies in the small central southern section.