Joseph Quinlan

QUINLAN, Joseph- – – – SPC 1894

DoB:- – 1882, Ballarat, VIC

Father:- – John Quinlan

Mother:- – Mary Ann, nee Pareer

Service No:- 4911

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 5th Battalion

Joseph Quinlan enlisted in the AIF on 17 August 1915 at the age of 31 years and one month. He was a single man whose occupation was a commission agent. Joseph was five feet, seven and a half inches tall, with a medium complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. Joseph embarked from Melbourne aboard the Anchises on 14 March 1916.

Private Quinlan disembarked at Suez on 15 April 1916 and joined the training battalion. On 18 May he was transferred to the Cycling Corps. The following day, he embarked at Alexandria and proceeded to Plymouth where he arrived on 8 June 1916 and marched in to another training camp. He remained in the UK as a cyclist throughout 1917.

On 23 January 1918, Private Quinlan proceeded overseas to France, and he marched in to the 5th Battalion from Etaples. He was killed in action on 12 July 1918. Eyewitness accounts reveal the circumstances of his death -“

-‘-¦ Joe Quinlan was a Pte in B Coy, 6th Platoon, No 4911. He used to be Q/M/S [Quarter Master Sergeant]. About 4am on the 12th July he was on duty -¦ on the right of Metterin. A shell hit him and almost blew him to pieces. I saw him lying in the trench and guided the stretcher bearers in from the rear to where he was -¦ I had known him for over two years -¦’

-‘-¦ I knew Casualty -¦ known as Joe. He was in the front line at Metterin holding the line. An HE shell exploded near Casualty killing him instantly -¦ I was 3 yards away. He was severely wounded in the neck -¦’

Joseph Quinlan’s effects were returned to his mother in Ballarat, and included a card case, one set of stencil plates, his YMCA wallet, photos, letter, a leather air pillow and a leather satchel.

He was buried at La Kruele Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France.