QUINN, Thomas Geoffrey
| Service Numbers: | NX140019, N440180 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 September 1942, 1st Australian Machine-Gun Training Battalion |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/6th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron |
| Born: | Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia, 3 July 1921 |
| Home Town: | Coogee, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Kaiapit, New Guinea, 19 September 1943, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lae War Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian Commando Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, NX140019, 2nd/6th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, N440180, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , 1st Australian Machine-Gun Training Battalion | |
| 1 May 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX140019, New Guinea Details Depot | |
| 7 May 1943: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Workshops Units and Elements, Transferred to 113 Brigade Workshop | |
| 5 Aug 1943: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Trooper, 2nd/6th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron, A Troop, 1 Section | |
| 19 Sep 1943: | Wounded Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Trooper, 2nd/6th Independent Company / Cavalry Commando Squadron, New Guinea - Huon Peninsula / Markham and Ramu Valley /Finisterre Ranges Campaigns, WIA & DOW during the Battle of Kaiapit |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by James Coleman
Story of Thomas Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Quinn
Thomas, known as "Geoff" was born in Punchbowl NSW on 3 Jul 1921, the son of John Patrick Hastings Quinn & Dulcie Beatrice Quinn of Coogee NSW
He was an unemployed station hand when he enlisted as a Private in the CMF(S/N: N440180) on 25 Sep 1942 at the age of 21 & was posted to the 1st Australian Machine-Gun Training Battalion on 24 Oct
On 30 Oct, Geoff transferred to the AIF (S/N: NX140019) & after a couple of training courses, he marched out to Townsville QLD for deployment to New Guinea
He embarked on board HMT Charon on 1 May arriving at Port Moresby on the 5th & being posted to the 113th Brigade Worksop two days later
He was posted to the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment 5 Aug & allocated as a Trooper to A Troop, 1 Section of the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Squadron, who had just arrived in country on the two days prior, for their second tour in the Pacific
For the remainder of Aug & start of Sep, the 2/6th conducted section, troop & squadron "toughening-up" training around the Bomana Creek area, in anticipation of their upcoming involvement in the Markham-Ramu campaign
On 17 Sep, they were transported by US Air Force from Moresby airfield to Leron, where upon arrival, received orders that they were to occupy Kaiapit as soon as possible & prepare a 1200ft runway, while also patrolling the area to destroy any enemy in the area
A few hours later, the Sqn received word from the Papuan Infantry Battalion, that the "Japs" have a HQ element of about 40 troops at Kaiapit, as well a patrols & outpost in the surrounding areas, estimating a total of 60 troops
The Battle of Kaiapit
At 0830h on the 19th, the Sqn left Sangan & by 1515h were formed up about 1200yds of the Kaiapit Mission for their final advance
Geoff with 1 Sec, A Tp, was astride the track leading to the main village area
By 1550h they had made contact with the enemy, being fired on by LMG & rifle fire about 150yds from the first village
1 Sec continued forward on track & cleared the first village while other sections cleared the foxholes in rear area with grenades & bayonets
By 1630, the enemy had broke contact & fled, allowing the 2/6th to form a defensive perimeter around Kaiapit. By this time, there were 2 KIAs & 7 WIAs while the enemy had lost 30 KIA
Throughout the night of 19/20, an enemy party of about 45 tried to enter the perimeter with their rifles slung on their shoulders, not realising it was now occupied by Allied forces. 6 were KIA while the rest retreated
At 0605h on the 20th, C Tp area was hit by "a hell of a lot of firing, but very little offensive spirit" but was successfully repelled. C Tp was ordered to counter-attack with A Tp in support
C Tp drove the enemy back to No.3 village but were forced to ground by heavy fire
At 0645h, A Tp attacked out through No.2 village & pursued the enemy to the kunai grass to the east. The Tp fanned out attacking towards Mission Hill, clearing enemy out of the kunai, killing about 50 enemy, while losing a few of their own
At 0800h, 1 Sec, A Tp had occupied Mission Hill & remained there in observation & support, directing the remainder of the Coy below in later stages of the action
A & C Tp’s continued to mop up enemy around the creek line & back toward the party constructed church. 1 Sec up on the hill, directed them in this "barracking like football spectators in a big game"
By 0900h the enemy was thoroughly demoralised, dumping their gear & trying to crawl away through the kunai. They estimated well over 100 Japs were KIA by this time & by 1000h only dead or dying remained
Coy HQ moved to Mission Hill by 1030h where the remainder of the Coy consolidates, with only small patrols out looking for stragglers
At 1400h, 1 Sec moved out to contact an enemy patrol that was approaching from the NW, killing 3 & driving the others off. These later ran out in view of Mission Hill & 2 more were KIA by rifle fire from there. Pte Quinn was mortally wounded during this patrol
Geoff & the other 2/6th casualties were initially buried at Kaiapit tough their remains were later moved to the Lae War Cemetary
Total casualties for the action were 14 friendly KIA or DOW, 23 WIA, 143 enemy KIA counted (at least 10 officers & 30 NCOs), with at least 50 uncounted & bloodstained packs indicating many WIA escaped