Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Bridget QUAILEY
Of Conway Street, Lismore, NSW

Son of Patrick Quailey and  Bridget Quailey of Conway Street, Lismore, NSW.

Brother of Thomas Quailey who was died of wounds on 11 August 1918m while serving with the 31st Battalion and is buried in Fouilloy Communal Cemetery, Row C, Grave 8; George David Quailey who was killed in action on 7 June 1917 while serving with the 49th Battalion and has no known grave. His name appears on Panel 29 of Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres; Joseph Quailey who returned to Australia on 6 January 1919 having served with the 38th Battalion.

Commenced return to Australia on 8 April 1919 aboard Trasos Montes disembarking on 25 May 1919 at Sydney for onward travel to Brisbane

Medals: 1914-1815 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

From Australian Remembrance Army

Private Ernest Quailey (Service No. 281), an Australian World War One veteran, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 23 September 2023, along with a further 300 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans in Anzac Portion 8: 
see Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Ernest Quailey was born on 3 July 1893 in Grafton, New South Wales, to Patrick Quailey and Bridget Quailey (nee D'Arcy). He was one of four brothers who served during World War One.

See link for “The Quailey boys of Lismore. By Margaret Henderson. December 1, 2014.

Patrick and Bridget Quailey of Lismore, previously of Grafton, had five sons. Four of these enlisted in the war. Sons Ernest and Thomas were both tailors and enlisted in 1915; George David, an ironmonger, and Joseph Timothy, a grocer, enlisted in 1916. All joined the Infantry though Ernest later transferred to the 5th Pioneers.

Only two of the four were to return to Australia. George was killed in action in Belgium on June 7, 1917, aged 32, and Thomas died of wounds in France on August 11, 1918, aged 26. George has no known grave but is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, while Thomas is buried at Fouilloy Communal Cemetery, Oise, France.

Joseph returned in November 1918 (one record says February 10, 1919). All the brothers had suffered various illnesses during their time overseas. Joseph had to leave the ship at Devonport, Tasmania, because of laryngitis. It is not clear how long his illness kept him there. In those days, before antibiotics, many illnesses now thought minor were to be avoided. Joseph was to be wounded several times but also found himself in hospital because of illness. At one stage he went absent without leave from the hospital.

Possibly his "adventure" was losing its interest. Presumably, Joseph returned to his occupation of grocer but he does not appear to have married until 1943 when he married Alice Edith Findlay at Mosman. However, he was one of the first to enlist in the Second World War. This was on April 15, 1940 when he gave his age as 43, two years younger than his actual age. He gave his sister as his next of kin. No doubt because of his occupation he was attached to the Canteen Services but served for only a few months. He died in Sydney in 1972.

Ernest returned in July 1919. He had been plagued by illness too including deafness. He had been involved in some of the worst fighting at Pozieres and also at Bullecourt. He also went AWOL at one stage. Many of our soldiers appear to have done so at least once.

Mainly the punishment was cancellation of pay, a small price to pay for a few hours freedom no doubt. As a member of the Pioneers, Ernest would have been at the front line most of the time. It is assumed he returned to his old occupation when he came back to Australia but was possibly badly affected by the war. He died in Goodna Mental Hospital, Brisbane on July 16, 1957. He could well be said to be a casualty of war.”

Prior to his death, Ernest was recorded as living in Sydney in 1930, working as a tailor and residing with his sister Nora, his brother Joseph, and his mother Bridget. By 1932, he was still living in Sydney with Nora and Bridget. In 1933, he was living independently in western Sydney and continued working as a tailor. By 1943, he had relocated to Brisbane, where he was living in the city and employed as a salesman.

Following his death at Brisbane Mental Hospital on 16 July 1957 at the age of 63, Private Ernest Quailey was quietly buried in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

Another forgotten soldier of World War One now remembered.
Lest We Forget.