88169
QUICK, Thomas Parker
| Service Number: | 3305 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 August 1915, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Davenport, Tasmania, Australia, 7 August 1889 |
| Home Town: | Kilkenny, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cabinet Maker |
| Died: | Parkholme, South Australia, 7 June 1971, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board, Rose Park Public School WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3305, 12th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3305, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3305, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion, From 12th Battalion | |
| 10 May 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion, From 52nd Battalion | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 3305, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3305, 50th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District |
Help us honour Thomas Parker Quick's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Mark Quick and Elizabeth Weeks Quick nee Dodd of Railway Terrace, Croydon Estate, near Kilkenny, SA. Brother of Mark Quick who returned to Australia in March 1918 having served with the 43rd Battalion
On 14 May 1910 Thomas married Ethel May Lomman at the residence of Sam Lomman of Norwood, SA
Commenced return to Australia on 5 April 1919 aboard HT Warwickshire disembarking on 24 May 1919
Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Thomas Parker Quick was born on August 7, 1889, in Devonport, Tasmania. He was the younger brother of Mark Quick. Evidence suggests that he moved to Kilkenny, a small suburb in Adelaide, just a few years into his early childhood. Limited information indicates that he spent the rest of his childhood and early adulthood as a cabinet maker until he enlisted in the AIF in his early 20s.
At 21, just five years before joining the ANZACS, Thomas married Ethel May Lomman at the residence of Sam Lomman of Norwood. Thomas enlisted in Adelaide on August 5, 1915. Thomas became a Private in the 12th Infantry Battalion due to embark on the HMAT Benalla on October 27, 1915. His brother, Mark Quick, swiftly enlisted a year later at the age of 31 on March 14 1916.
In his enlistment form, Thomas is described as a 5' 3" male with dark hair and brown eyes. Weighing nearly 125 pounds, Thomas's complexion was dark, with a chest measurement of around 37 inches; additionally, Thomas was devoted to Methodism.
His involvement in WWI took place in several distinguished units. He was a member of the 12th Infantry Battalion from August 5, 1915, until March 3, 1916. Following this, Thomas served in the 52nd Infantry Battalion from March 3, 1916 to May 10, 1918, then the 50th Infantry Battalion from May 10, 1918 to July 18, 1919.In July 1916 he went to hospital for a few days but otherwise he remained well and was not wounded during his service.
Thomas demonstrated the courage and determination of the ANZAC forces by actively participating in significant battles that impacted the outcome of World War I. He experienced intense fighting during the Attack on Noreuil, which took place on April 2 1917 and was a part of the more significant Battle of Arras. The battle involved ANZAC forces pushing against heavily defended German positions near the French village of Noreuil. It was a challenging and fierce encounter, showcasing the perseverance and bravery of the ANZAC soldiers. Then, Thomas found himself in the thick of the action during the Attacks on Dernancourt, another attack within the Battle of Arras. In April of 1917, mere days after the attack on Noriel, the Anzac soldiers had to attack German forces with little to no time to recover from the previous Noriel battle. The attack on Dernancourt involved ANZAC forces assaulting German-held positions near the village of Dernancourt.
Private Quick also played a role in the Battle of Messines from the 7th until the 14th of June, 1917, a significant offensive by the British and ANZAC forces. The battle aimed to capture the Messines Ridge. The quite extravagant plan involved comprehensive tunnelling and the detonation of mines to break through enemy defences. ANZAC soldiers like Thomas felt the challenges of assaulting well-prepared German positions, but either way, they successfully captured the ridge.
He also participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood, in which ANZAC forces, including the 50th Battalion, faced harsh terrain and stubborn German resistance in the Polygon Wood area (an area in Belgium). Happening around September 26 1917, the battle highlighted ANZAC troops' undying perseverance and nonstop determination in the face of adversity.
Thomas Parker Quick would have witnessed the Battle of Villers Bretonneux (April 24 until April 25, 1918), a crucial attack during the German Spring Offensive. ANZAC forces were essential in recapturing the town from German control, showcasing their resilience and combat effectiveness.
Later, he would be forced to endure the hardships of the German Spring Offensive, which were numerous offensives led by the German army against the Triple Entente. Thomas would have faced intense fighting as he resisted the German advance, demonstrating his and the Anzac's ability to counter enemy attacks.
Thomas's final battle was the Third Battle of Ypres, which spanned from July 31 to November 10 1917. The battle involved ANZAC forces trying to secure the Passchendaele Ridge, which was defined by difficult weather conditions and heavy casualties.
Once the war had finished on the 5th April 1919, he was sent back home and was discharged 18th July 1919.
Unfortunately, at the age of 71, on June 7 1961, in Park Holme, South Australia, Thomas Parker Quick lost his life. Following his passing, on June 8, 1971, Thomas was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery.