John Robert Alexander Quinnell (1899 - 1918)

Born 6 Jan 1899 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 13 Nov 1918 at age 19 in Bronte, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

John Quinnell is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Trooper John Quinnell died from wounds received during World War I.

John was born in 1899. He was the son of Arthur Quinnell and Cecilia Graves. He passed away in 1918.

John was born on the 6th January 1899 at 92 Oxford Street Paddington. His home address was 116 Phillip Street, Sydney. His birth was registered by his father on the 17th February at Paddington. Arthur was still a grocer and John’s grandmother, Elizabeth Graves, assisted at the birth. As previously mentioned John had various addresses in his youth. As was the wont he most likely never attended school much and his occupation in his teenage years was that of Groom. (Attending to horses).
When war broke out in 1915 John was 16 years old and like a lot of youngsters was keen for a stoush. These kids still considered England as home and joined up by their thousands to fight for the “Mother Land”. His father was English.
John enlisted at the Show Ground camp on the 19th December 1916, making him 17 years of age. He was not a big lad, standing 5 foot 3 ½ inches tall and weighing 124 lbs. (8 ½ Stone). He was short and stocky. His hair was brown, his complex fair and his eyes were grey. He had various scars on his left arm and right chest. He also had a pigmented patch on his right leg, which hasn’t carried through to any later family members.
His mother signed a consent letter stating that he was 19 years and 11 months old. I’ve heard that John had signed up earlier using an alias and that his mother had him discharged. He must have been a persuasive person. His stepfather also enlisted.
He was allotted to the 7th Reinforcements, 2 and 4 Camel Regiment, for training at Menangle Park. His service No was 2043.
On the 3rd February 1917 he embarked upon the RMS Karmala (Royal Mail Steamer) for Egypt. This ship was part of Convoy 29. On the 11th March he disembarked at Suez and moved into camp at Moascar. After training he was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Training Regiment. Upon completion he was transferred to the 12th Light Horse which was stationed near Gaza, Palestine from May to October he served in the region of Gaza and Beersheeba. From the 20th October 1917 till the 29th November he was in hospital suffering from Dysentery. At this time his regiment fought in the famous battle at Beersheeba where the Australians routed the Germans and Turks. This was the last great Cavalry charge. The usual tactic was for the troops to charge on their horses to about ½ a mile from the enemy position and then dismount and charge on foot with rifle and bayonet. The enemy had their artillery aimed to a spot where the men would usually have dismounted but to their dismay and bad luck the men kept charging on their horses and completely over ran the enemy positions. The element of surprise.
John was discharged from hospital on the 29th November and was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar. On the 11th December he rejoined his mates of the 12th Light Horse at Mejdel, near Gaza. From February to March 1918 the Regiment was given rest and training at Belah, south west of Gaza. Between the 1st and 21st April the Regiment moved forward to Latran, near Jerusalem. On the 27th they were near Jericho and were engaging the Turks. On the 1st May the Turks attacked the Australians and fierce fighting eventuated. On the 2nd May John received a gunshot wound to the head. He lay for a day or two before he was found. He was sent to various clearing stations and hospitals in Egypt. He went from dangerously ill to out of danger and was eventually transferred to No 14 Australian General Hospital at Abbassar, Egypt. He convalesced here again slipping from dangerously ill to out of danger. A letter written by one of his mates for him at this time makes interesting and sad reading. He was unable to use his arms but puts a good light on his condition for his mum. On the 6th August he was considered fit to travel and embarked upon the HMAHS Karoola. (His Majesty’s Australian Hospital Ship). He arrived back in Sydney on the 6th September 1918, his brother’s, and my dad’s, 11th birthday. He was admitted to the No 4 Australian General Hospital at Randwick where he passed away on the 13th November. The cause of his death on his death certificate was Hernia Cerebri and Septic Meningitis. He was buried the next day at Waverley Cemetery in a private grave. As such his final resting place is not maintained by the War Graves Commission. (It is now). His mother is now buried with him.
John was 19 years old and dead.
His rate of pay makes interesting reading in these days. They weren’t called 5 bob a day soldiers for nothing. He was getting 5/- (50c) per day of which 4/- was paid to his mother. He was also entitled to 1/- a day deferred pay which was only payable on discharge so would have been paid to his mum upon his death.
He is remembered on the wall at the War Memorial in Canberra, the War Memorial in Pioneer Park, Norton Street Leichhardt, and the Wall of Remembrance in Rookwood Cemetery.

LEST WE FORGET

( Extract from the book, An Australian Family of Botany Bay, written by Bruzz Quinnell)

Sources

• John Robert Alexander Quinnell, Roll of Honour, The Australian War Memorial
• Service Record, John Robert Alexander Quinnell, National Archives of Australia
• John Robert Alexander Quinnell, Virtual War Memorial Australia
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120339039/john-robert_alexander-quinnell: accessed 14 August 2022), memorial page for John Robert Alexander Quinnell (unknown–13 Nov 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 120339039, citing Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, Waverley Council, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by R & S (contributor 46634910).