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Maurice was born on the 21st September 1920 in his hometown of Cleve, a wheat and sheep farming area on the Eyre Peninsula of SA. His parents were James Joseph, who had lived in Cleve since 1906, and Elizabeth Quinn. He had seven siblings including three brothers, Frank, Kenneth James and Alfred William and four sisters, Elsie, Eileen, Ruby and Ida. Sadly, prior to his birth, young Elsie May died in the Children’s Hospital just prior to her 8th birthday in April ’15. She was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
At the local Cleve school, Maurice was regularly listed on the honours roll each week for his academic performances from Grade II onwards. The school was active in its fundraising through bazaars to purchase additional equipment and teaching aids.
Typical of country children, Maurice was proficient with a rifle. However, on a November weekend prior to sitting his Qualifying Exams, he was leaning on a .22 rifle when, according to the Port Lincoln Times, it ‘suddenly went off, and the bullet passed through his right foot. Maurice, who is a qualifying certificate candidate, now attends lessons on crutches.’ He was one of 11 students who successfully sat their QC in ‘34, which he passed with a creditable 545 marks. That year the school had a total of 88 students attending across all year levels. A section where children wrote to ‘Wattle Blossom’ in the Southern Cross newspaper, published a letter from Maurice regarding his injury, but he astutely avoided mentioning it was carelessly inflicted: “Dear Wattle Blossom,— I hope you and the orphans are well. I am getting better, and Shirley is helping me to write to you. I hurt my foot, and I got a very sore throat, and the doctor made me stay in bed, and mother says I am a very good boy and the best patient she has ever had. Desmond says, it's because I am a Sunshine boy. My uncle and auntie have been very kind, and next week I am going to stay with them, and then with my grandma, and Shirley is coming, too. Shirley read me a lot of nice stories, and sometimes she made up some nice ones, and I liked them Love from MAURICE QUINN.
‘Dear Little Maurice,—I know you were a very good little patient, and I am glad Shirley read you nice stories, and also made some up right out of her head. You ask her to write them down some time and then send them on to me. I hope you have a lovely holiday with your kind little sister Shirley. Heaps of love and good wishes that you may get quite strong soon. Wattle Blossom.’
Prior to this incident, Maurice was a popular performer at Joseph Quinn and Stella McCormack’s wedding. He and Maureen Quinn danced an Irish reel at the reception. Their talents were often sought at events, including at the evening Ball following the Chandra Catholic Sports event in March ’37 where Maurice and Maureen performed a step dance. He was also a partner in the hugely popular Debutant Ball held at Minnipa, which was attended by the Bishop of Port Augusta. His foot had obviously recovered as he was doing the polonaise and a range of other dances.
Post school, Maurice successfully ran the boot repair shop in Cleve. However, with the outbreak of WWII he enlisted on the 12th February 1941 at Wayville and was allocated the number SX11288 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion, initially training at Terowie in the mid-north. Younger brother, Alfred William enlisted the following month becoming 28823 as a Leading Aircraftman in the RAAF. He was eventually discharged in February ’45. Older brother, Kenneth enlisted in May ’41, becoming SX12584 with the General Details Depot, being finally discharged in May ’44.

By April, Maurice was on the Ile de France heading for the Middle East, arriving on the 5th August and soon after attending a staging camp at Amiriya. His mother, Elizabeth was also active in her support of the R.S.A., holding the annual dinner of the Cleve sub-branch at her home that month. The members were urged to ‘keep the League flag flying for the sake of the boys of the 2nd A.I F., who will eventually require reinstatement in civil life’. She was thanked for her ‘very fine dinner and eulogistic references were made to the fact that she has three soldier sons. AIf, R.A.A.F.; Ken and Maurice A.I.F.’
Maurice re-joined the 2/48th on the 17th December ’41 in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. He was to become one of the famed and highly respected Rats of Tobruk.
Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. The action between October 25th and 26th 1942 meant that the survivors of an horrific explosion and subsequent fighting were not always able to immediately retrieve their fallen men. John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes the carnage caused by the chance hit by an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines.
‘An ear shattering explosion dwarfed the sound of the guns into insignificance. Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved.
Having just turned 22, Maurice’s 2/48th Battalion was involved in a massive assault to ambitiously take the strategic position of Trig 29. The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn described the conditions where arrangements were made for ‘mines, wire ammunition, food, water, overhead cover, sandbags, tools, anti-tank guns, and all the rest, and holding the present position while preparing to launch another attack. And while all this was being done, the battalion was subjected to murderous fire from artillery and mortars.’ Maurice was involved in the attack on Trig 29 but died of his wounds on November 1st ’42.
His parents received the news, including a minimally worded telegram via the Cleve post office from the Minister for the Army. The sad news was also reported in the Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune in November: ‘Mr and Mrs J, J. Quinn of Cleve, on Wednesday of last week, were notified that their second youngest son. Private M. H (Maurice) Quinn, A.I.F., died of wounds, received while in action in Egypt on November the 1st. Private Quinn, who was close on 22 years of age, enlisted in January 1942 and with several other local boys, left for overseas in March of the same year. Shortly before being wounded Private Quinn had cabled his parents "Not to worry about him, he was now in the cookhouse and was quite o.k." Prior to enlisting, he conducted the boot repair shop in the town. One elder brother Ken, who was also serving overseas, is now with the A.I.F. somewhere in Australia, and a younger brother is in the R.A A.F.’
In December the Chronicle published a casualty list of those Killed In Action.— SX8889 Cpt. John. W. N. Minocks, 2/43rd Glossop; SX10245 Cpt William R. Reid, 2/48th St. Peters; SX6735 Lt. Alister L P. McDonald, 2/43rd Broken Hill; SX6469 Sgt. Archibald M. Badenoch, 2/43rd Tarcoola- SX9787 Pte. Earl. Edwards, 2/7th Broken Hill; SX6304 Pte. Angus McP. Halliday. 2/43rd Burra; SX11128 L-Cpl. J. T. Holman. 2/24th, Telowie Creek; SX11344 Pte. Kevin L. McCormack, 2/43rd, Wayville; SX11873 Pte. Stanley Moon. Inf., Payneham; SX6616 Sgt. C. S. Nicholson, 2/43rd Thorngate; SX5612 A-Sgt. H Shephard, 2/43rd Mt. Gambier; SX13307 Pte Robert F. Talor. 2/43rd Renmark. Died Or Wounds, — SX11288 Pte Maurice H. Quinn, 2/48th Cleve.
By 31st March, Maurice was permanently re-interred in the El Alamein War Cemetery in Plot A 3 Row C Grave 68. His parents chose the inscription ‘To have, then to part, is the saddest blow to a mother’s heart’ for his headstone. He now rests with others from the 2/2nd, 2/3rd,2/12th, 2/15th, 2/17th and 2/28th Battalions. Their ages ranged from five in their 20’s, four in their 30’s and one aged 42. These were the cream of Australians.
In March ’44 Elizabeth Quinn was seriously ill, resulting in her married daughter, Ida Jackson, a nurse at Whyalla, returning to care for her mother. Alfred, serving overseas with the RAAF was granted special leave to also be at her side. She recovered but in June ’49 Maurice’s 79-year-old father James died. Elizabeth lived to December ’51 with both now interred in the Cleve Cemetery.
Maurice’s medals were eventually posted to his family in February ’53. They included the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. He continued to be remembered by his family.
Eyre's Peninsula Tribune Thursday 17 December 1942, MR and MRS J. J. QUINN and family of Cleve, wish to sincerely thank all kind friends and relatives for letters, cards, telegrams and personal expressions of sympathy in their recent sad bereavement in the loss of their beloved son and brother Pte M. H. (Maurice) Quinn, of the 2/48th Battalion, who died of wounds on November 1st, 1942 Please accept this as a personal expression of sincere gratitude.
Eyre's Peninsula Tribune Thursday 28 October 1943, QOINN— In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Maurice H. Quinn, who died of wounds received at El Alamein on November 1st, 1942, — Inserted by his loving mother, father, brothers Alf, Ken and sister Eileen. QUINN— In loving memory of our dear brother, Maurice H. Quinn, who died of wounds at El Alamein, on November 1st, 1942. A loving brother sadly missed-—Inserted by his sister Ruby and brother-in-law Oliver.
Eyre's Peninsula Tribune Thursday 26 October 1944, QUINN, M. H., Pte A.I.F. — In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Maurice, who died of wounds at El Alamein, on 1st November, 1942. Memories are treasures no one can steal, Death leaves a wound no one can heal. -— Ever remembered by mother, father, sisters and brothers.
Eyre's Peninsula Tribune Thursday 1 November 1945, QUINN — In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte Maurice Quinn, of 2/48th Batt., who died of wounds at El Alamein on November 1st, 1942. —Ever remembered by his Mother and Father, sisters and brothers. QUINN— In loving memory of our dear brother Maurice, of 2/48tb Batt. who died of wounds, on November 1st, at El Alamein. He gave his life defending us. —Ever remembered by Ruby and Oliver.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.