William Edward QUILL MM

QUILL, William Edward

Service Number: 1252
Enlisted: 4 March 1915
Last Rank: Lance Corporal
Last Unit: 23rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Penshurst, Victoria, Australia, 1892
Home Town: Glenthompson, Southern Grampians, Victoria
Schooling: State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, France, 1 September 1918
Cemetery: Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension
Plot V, Row A, Grave I. Headstone inscription reads> R.I.P. Beloved son
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glenthompson War Memorial, Penshurst War Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

4 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1252, 23rd Infantry Battalion
10 May 1916: Involvement Private, 1252, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
10 May 1916: Embarked Private, 1252, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne
23 Feb 1918: Honoured Military Medal, For conspicuous gallantry on night 10th/11th November, 1917, in vicinity of Broodseinde near Ypres. Whilst in close support, these men [Quill and 727 W.A. Gornall] heard calls for help coming from a demolished and detached machine gun post; in spite of very heavy enemy shell fire they quickly proceeded to the spot, and dug out five injured men. They then guided stretcher bearers to the post and helped to carry the wounded. But for their gallant act the wounded would have remained exposed to very bad weather conditions all night, and their courageous conduct undoubtedly saved the machine gun and crew. Their immediate action and personal disregard of danger was most marked. London Gazette on 23 February 1918, page 2435, position 4 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 July 1918, page 1588, position 59
20 Aug 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 23rd Infantry Battalion, In France
1 Sep 1918: Involvement Lance Corporal, 1252, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1252 awm_unit: 23 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-01

Military record

Private William Edward Quill, 23rd Battalion, of Glenthompson, Victoria.

Private Quill enlisted on 4 March 1915, he was wounded at Gallipoli and later served as a Lance Corporal.

On 23 February 1918 he was awarded a Military Medal (MM) for carrying a wounded soldier to safety under heavy shellfire.

Lance Corporal Quill was killed in action in 1 August 1918 at Mont St Quentin in France.

Showing 1 of 1 story

Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of Edward Thomas Quill and Teresa Von Levin formerly Quill nee Fahey of Glenthompson, Victoria. 

Brother of Sydney John Quill who returned to Australia mid 1919 having served with the 24th Battalion.

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal