QUINTON, Hugh Augustus
| Service Number: | 2706 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 39th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cobram Victoria, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Yanco, Leeton, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 16 July 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium Underhill Farm Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cobram Barooga RSL War Memorial, Leeton ANZAC Memorial Clock Tower and Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2706, 39th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2706, 39th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
2706 Private Hugh Augustus Quinton 39th Battalion AIF, killed in action 15th July 1917, age 22.
His brother 2705 Private William John Quinton 39th Battalion AIF died of wounds 1st September 1918, age 20.
The two brothers enlisted together, both born and raised in Cobram and they lost their lives on the Western Front, during 1917 and 1918.
Hugh was another 21-year-old, born and raised in Cobram, who enlisted in NSW during August 1916. He enlisted the same day as his younger brother 2705 Private William John Quinton, also born in Cobram and only 18 years and 1 month of age. The boys were given consecutive regimental numbers and both served in the 39th Battalion AIF. Hugh and William were both labourers, single men, and their parents had moved to Yanco NSW during 1913. Their mother and father had lived at Cobram East, Lalalty and Tocumwal and the boys were well known around Cobram and Tocumwal. They downed tools and joined up together.
The brothers left Sydney in November 1916, and arrived in England during January 1917. Both arrived in France in May 1917 and Hugh was wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the back on the 13th June 1917, however the wound was slight and he was returned to the battalion within 2 weeks. Only a few weeks later he was killed in action on the 15th July 1917, and is buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Belgium. His brother William was probably present at the time of his death. Their mother, Bridget Quinton was awarded a pension of two pounds a fortnight.
William fought on and was wounded in action on the 6th April 1918, by shrapnel in the back, and it was severe enough for him to be evacuated to England a few days later. Due to shortages in reinforcements, when he recovered, he was sent back to France in July 1918, where he was again severely wounded on the 31st August 1918, this time a gunshot wound to the chest and spine. Despite being quickly sent to a Casualty Clearing Station, William died of his wounds the next day, 1st September 1918, and is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France. It was his 20th birthday.
Mrs Bridget Quinton endured the death of her two sons, being of pioneering stock she no doubt endured many hardships during her life and she went on to become one of Leeton’s most loved citizens, a gentle, cultural and intellectual women, who spent much of her life helping other people in hardship.