Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William (Bill) was one of three children born to William and Eva Grace Quinn on the 28th February, 1915 at Clarence Park, a suburb of Adelaide. He had two siblings Catherine Margaret, and Robert.
A month prior to his seventh birthday, Bill’s father, William died in January 1922 and was buried at the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide. Two years later when Bill had just turned nine, his mother, Eva who had been cared for by her own mother in Redfern, SA, died aged 30. She was also interred in the West Terrace Cemetery. After the death of his parents, Bill moved to Ardrossan before eventually living to Bordertown in the South-East of South Australia where he proved to be a hard worker as a truck driver, for the Tatiara District Council on roadworks and for the local Hill family at Pooginagoric in the South East.
Bill and his friends, Herb Matthews and Jack Richardson were fortunate to survive a speeding drunken driver at Bordertown. The driver, a motor mechanic, and former Victorian motor racing was found to have deliberately aimed his car at the trio, striking Herb. In the ensuing court case reported in the Border Chronicle of July ’39, Bill described the horrific scene. “With his companions, he had taken only two steps off the northern footpath to cross the roadway when defendant, seeing them approaching, deliberately looked at them and turned the car in their direction, striking Matthews. As witness turned back to jump clear, he saw Matthews hurtling through the air, then lying on his side in the gutter about 20 feet from the point of impact.” Herb spent three days recovering in hospital while the driver was heavily fined and disqualified from obtaining a licence for three months. An indication of the extent of the severity of injury to Herb and the speed of the car was evident with the front bumper bar and radiator being extensively damaged.
With the outbreak of WWII, Bill enlisted on the 29th June 1940, just after his 25th birthday and at the same time as his close friend, Herbert Matthews, also from Bordertown. He nominated his sister, Catherine to be his next of kin. (Catherine later married Arthur Clark, SX22350 in January ’42.)
Bill was allocated the number SX7176 and Herbert SX7128 with both being assigned to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Their initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Pre-embarkation leave gave him time with his family before the 2/48th contingent embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 and his Battalion completing a few months training in Cyrenaica.
By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk. Unfortunately, those conditions contributed to Bill contracting Pleurisy and spending three weeks in hospital. His quiet confidence and leadership skills were recognised soon after with his appointment initially to L/Corporal, then A/Corporal in February ’42.
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. 27-year-old William was killed under these conditions.
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. Steve Fitzgerald who was bringing up the mortar truck, which was laden with bombs, was seventy or so yards behind the trucks when the first one went off. His vehicle rocked in the blast, and, blinded by the flash, he was thrown clear out of it and onto the ground. Russ Lucas and Doug Richardson, who were manning a wireless set in a nearby trench, were temporarily stunned, but by gallant effort they got one man out of the trucks. He died in their arms. Parts of their wireless set were never found; the batteries were picked up two hundred yards away. 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. They were: Corporal R. Bryant, W.D. Cockshell, W.C. Quinn, J.J. Buckley, H.S. Searle, W.A. Craig, C. Fraser, C.H. Schulz, C.E. Dolling and E. Parkyn.’
The Chronicle in December ’42 included a list of the men killed in action. They included SX7832 Pte. Max C. Boase. 2/48th Millicent; SX6896 Pte. Lance Chapman, 2/48th North Moonta; SX5226 Pte. Charles L. K. Cock, 2/43rd Solomontown; SX7260 Sgt. Charles Fraser. 2/48th Norwood; SX10466 Pte. Ernest L Freeman, 2/43rd, Calca; SX8651 Sgt. Lindsay R. Goode, 2/48th., Malvern; SX13580 Pte. Ronald A. Grist. Port Noarlunga; SX8587 Pte. George W. Haywood, 2/48th Mount Compass: SX7249 Cpl. J. Hinson, 2/43rd Plympton: SX310 Sgt. Alfred W G. Miller, 2/48th Ponde; SX9488 Pte. E. L. Montgomerie, Inf., Edwardstown; SX7375 Sgt Charles E. Plummer, 2/48th College Park; SX7176 A-Cpl. W. C. Quinn, 2/48th Bordertown; SX8113 Pte. M. N. Riley, 2/48th Burnside; SX7298 Cpl. Harold Sandercock, 2/48th Maitland; SX7732 Ste. Clem H. Schulz, 2/48th Yorketown; SX12924 Pte. Richard Speck, 2/48th Blanchetown; SX849J Pte. A. G. Wilson, 2/48th Glanville.
The Border Chronicle reported “A/Cpl W. C. (Bill) Quinn (AIF), who was killed in action in Egypt on October 25th, enlisted from Bordertown and was among the earliest contingent of Tatiara boys to leave for overseas. For seven months with the famous Tobruk defenders, he received a stripe while there. He was also in Syria, and Palestine. Before enlisting, Bill was employed by Tatiara District Council on roadwork, and was for two years with Mr Cliff Hill, at Pooginagoric. He came to this district from Ardrossan, and has a sister at Redfern. Of quiet disposition, he was highly regarded by all who knew him.”
Charles was buried in the field with those who were killed with him before later being re-buried on the 25th January ’43 then on the 31st March 1945 in the El Alamein Cemetery, Plot XXII Row F. Grave 13. His family chose the inscription for his headstone ‘His Duty Nobly Done’. Corporal William now lies with Privates Clem Schulz SX7732, Ernest Parkyn SX7506 killed in the same explosion and Alexander Hill WX9822, killed on the 31st October, all from the 2/48th Battalion. Others rest nearby, Corporal Roland Bryant SX7296, Privates William Cockshell SX10464, Joseph Buckley SX8459, and Harry Searle SX8143.
His close-knit family and extended family continued to remember Bill, as did his friend, Herb Matthews who survived the war.
Border Chronicle Friday 4 December 1942, QUINN. —A tribute to the memory, of L/Cpl W. C. (Bill) Quinn, killed in action in Egypt on October 25th, 1942. —Ever remembered by the Hill family, Bordertown.
Advertiser Tuesday 26 October 1943, QUINN. —Killed in action overseas, Oct. 25, 1942, L.-Cpl. W. C. Quinn (Bill). — Ever remembered, Bert, Jean, and Ray Mathews. QUINN. —In loving memory of our nephew and cousin. L/Cpl. Bill, killed in Egypt. Oct. 25. 1942.—Always remembered by Auntie Ruby. Uncle George and Gwen. QUINN. —ln loving memory of my brother. L/Cpl. Bill, killed in action, Egypt, Oct. 25. 1942.—Ever remembered, by Kath and Frank. QUINN. Cpl. Bill (A.I.F.)—A tribute to the memory of Bill, made supreme sacrifice in Middle East. Oct. 25. 1942. Too far away a grave to see, but not too far to remember thee. —inserted by Bob and Shirley QUINN. —In loving memory or Cpl Bill Quinn, killed in action at El Alamein on Oct. 25. 1942. Beneath the cross of sacrifice, among Australia's brave. Ever remembered by Lorna. QUINN. —In loving memory of Bill, killed in action El Alamein. Oct. 25. 1942. —Always remembered by Pearl, Aileen and Donald.
Advertiser Wednesday 25 October 1944, QUINN. —in loving memory of Bill, killed in action. El Alamein. Oct. 25, 1942. Tears roll on, but memories stay. —Ever remembered by his sister Cath and brother-in-law Frank. QUINN. —In loving memory of our brother. Bill, killed in action, El Alamein, Oct. 25. 1942. Not just today. but every day. in silence we remember. —Ever remembered by Bob and Shirley. QUINN. —In loving memory of Bill, killed in action. El Alamein. Oct. 23, 1942. Two years have passed, but loving memories will always last. —Ever remembered by Uncle George. Auntie Ruby, and cousin Gwen. QUINN. —In loving memory of Bill, killed in action. El Alamein, October 25, 1942, loving nephew of Mis. W Masterson. Kilburn, and cousin of Aileen and Donald. Always remembered.
Advertiser Thursday 25 October 1945, QUINN. —In loving memory of Bill, killed in action, El Alamein. October 25. - 1942. Fondest memories linger as the years pass. —Ever remembered by his sister Cath and brother-in-law Frank. QUINN. SX7176. L-Cpl W C—ln loving remembrance of Bill made supreme sacrifice, El Alamein, October 25. 1942. Buried in a soldier's grave, honored with Australia's brave. —Ever remembered by brother Bob and family. QUINN. —In memory of our nephew Bill, killed in action. El Alamein, October 25, 1942. Resting in a soldier's grave, honored with Australia's brave. —Remembered by Uncle George and. Auntie Ruby.
Advertiser Friday 25 October 1946, QUINN. —In loving memory of Bill, killed in action at El Alamein, October 25, 1942. A thought for today, a memory forever. Always remembered by his sister Cath, brother-in-law Frank, also Aunty Ruby. QUINN. —A tribute to the memory of Bill, who gave his all at El Alamein, October 25, 1942. —Sadly missed by brother Bob, sister-in-law Shirley.

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