S1185
QUINN, Thomas James
| Service Number: | 4245 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1916, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mount Bryan, South Australia, 29 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Burra (SA), Goyder, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Burra, South Australia, 9 April 1975, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Burra Cemetery, South Australia Interred on 10 April 1975 |
| Memorials: | Burra District WW1 Honor Roll, Clare and District WW2 Roll of Honour, Mount Bryan Roll of Honor WW1, Sevenhills & Penwortham District War Memorial WW2 |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4245, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 4245, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 4245, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 16 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Wound to the left leg. | |
| 27 Aug 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, During the attack astride the Bay-Corbie road on the 29th July 1918, Corporal Quinn as Section Commander, showed conspicuous bravery and courage. His handling of his section throughout the advance was done with exceptional skill and he worked indefatigably during consolidation of the newly won position. During consolidation he himself moved round in front of his position and while doing so encountered a party of 3 Bosche. These he immediately attacked and killed one when the other two "Kameraded" and he brought them in as prisoners. His dash and daring as well as his cheerful manner throughout set an inspiring example to all the men under his charge London Gazette on 11 December 1918, page 14669, position 49. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 March 1919,page 427, position 78 | |
| 4 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 4245, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 4245, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
|---|
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017, refer to pages 2, 273 and 283. Prior to the war he was a farmer of Mt Bryan SA. He enlisted 12th July 1916 aged 23 years. He served with the 32nd Infantry Battalion, during his service he was awarded a Military Medal for his activities. He survived the war, departing the UK for home 10th April 1919.
Submitted 27 March 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of William Henry Quinn and Annie O'Meally of Mount Bryan, SA.
Returned to Australia aboard HT Medic disembarking on 27 May 1919
Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
On 12 February 1923 Thomas married Harriet Smith in the Immaculate Conception Church, Quorn, SA
Biography contributed by Annabelle Quinn
World War One soldier Thomas James Quinn, was born in 1892 on the 29th of September. His birth town was Mount Bryan South Australia as he spent most his childhood living there with his Mother Annie O'Meally and Father William Quinn. Thomas's school was not discovered, but it was likely Burra or Mount Bryan. Before and after the war his occupation was a farmer as he helped his father on the farm for many years.
Thomas was enlisted in World War One on the 12th of July in 1916, Thomas's next of kin was William Quinn his father. He was aged 23 and 8 months and his service number was 4245. In his enlistment papers, Thomas had brown hair and eyes with a medium complexation. When he joined the war, he was 5.9 feet tall and weight 64.4 kgs (142lbs).
He embarked on from Adelaide South Australia on the 7th of November 1917. He was sent off on a ship called the "Afric" which was travelling to Flymouth England. Thomas was then sent from Flymouth and marched out to Lyndhurst on the 9th of January 1917 where he most likely attended some type of training. He was then sent to the area of Etaples and Flanders Field on the 12th to the 14th of April as part of the 32nd Infantry Battalion.
On the 16th of October 1917 Thomas was wounded in action while fighting in Etaples. His record papers show that his wound was a gunshot in the left leg. Thomas was transported to Portmouth where he was hospitalized until the 13th of March 1918. He recovered and was sent back to fight.
Thomas returned home to Australia,later on, on the 12th of February 1923 he married Harriet Smith. Their conception was at the Quorn church in South Australia. They later had children. Thomas sadly passed away at the age of 82 on the 9th of April 1975, due to old age. He was buried the next day after he passed at the Burra South Australia cemetery.
As of today, Thomas James Quinn has one of the Burra District WW1 Honor role and many other awards.
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