Cards and Notes

This brings us to the end of the correspondence of Corp T J Quinn to his South Australian family during World War 1. 

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Corp Thomas James Quinn MM

The Soldiers Ten Commandments

1. The Colonel is the only boss. Thou shall have no other colonels but him.
2. But thou shalt make unto thyself many graven images of officers who fly in the heavens above; of staff officers who own the earth underneath; and of submarine officers, who are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt stand up and salute them for the C.O., thy boss, will visit with field punishment unto the first and second degree on those who salute not, and shower stripes on those who salute and obey his commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Adjutant in vain, for the C.O. will not hold him guiltless who taketh the Adjutant's name in vain.
4. Remember, thou shalt not rest on the Sabbath. Six days shalt thou labour and the seventh day is the day of the C.R.E (Commandant Royal Engineers). On it thou shalt do all manner of work, thou and thy officers, thy non-commissioned officers, thy sanitary man, and the Kitchener's army who are within thy trench.
5. Honour the army staff that thy days may be long in corps reserve, here one day they may send thee.
6. Thou shalt kill only Huns, slugs, lice, rats and the vermin that frequent dugouts.
7. Thou shalt not adulterate thy section's rum ration.
8. Thou shalt not steal, or at any rate, not be found out.
9. Thou shalt not eat any others jam except marmalade
10. Thou shalt not covet the ASC's job; thou shall not covet the ASC's pay, nor his motors, nor his wagons, nor his tents, nor his billets, nor his horses, nor his asses, nor any other cusby thing that is his.

Adelaide; July 4th, 1919

Certificate of Discharge

No 137448

Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force

Certificate of Discharge of 4245 (Rank) Corporal

(Name) Quinn, Thomas, James.

(Regiment or Corps) 32nd Battalion

Born at or near the Town of Mount Bryan

in the State of South Australia

Enlisted at Adelaide on the 12th July 1916 for the Imperial Forces Regiment or Corps at the age of 24 years.

____________________________

He is discharged in consequence of Cessation of Hostilities. 

Service towards completion of engagement: Two years 358 days.

Service Abroad Two years 202 days. 

Medals and Decorations: Military Medal

Signature of Officer Commanding Regiment: A Mitchell Lieut For SOF & RS 4th MD

Place: Keswick

Date July 4th 1919

___________________________

Description of the above-named Soldier on discharge :-

Age 26 years

Height 5ft 9 in

Complexion Medium

Eyes Blue

Hair Dark

Trade as stated by him on enlistment Farmer

Marks or scars, whether on face or other parts of body -  Left arm 6 Vaccs; Gun Shot Wounds Left thigh

______________________

Intended place of Residence Mount Bryan South Australia

Specimen Signature of Soldier T J Quinn.

Cancellation of pay

Defence Department, 4th Military District
MILITARY ALLOTMENTS. DISCHARGED (in Australia), DECEASED, and MISSING.
Termination Advice No. 9263
D.P.M. Ref. No. 100/19
District Pay Office, Adelaide, 28/5/19
Certificate No, 36 payable at Hallett Post Office.
No. 4245 Rank CPl. Name QUINN, T. J. Unit 1/32nd Btn.
Allottee's Name and Address Mr. W. H. Quinn, Mount Bryan, S.A.
I have to inform you that allotment and separation allowance of 6/6 per diem payable to you under above certificate is to be cancelled on and from 5/7/19 and payments will therefore be made to you as under:-
Existing rate per fortnight £4. 11. 0
Amount due on 12/6/19 £11. 14. 0
Thereafter, payment will cease.
The reason for the cancellation is Soldier discharged 4/7/19.
Your Certificate will be retained by the Postmaster after final payment has been made.
Yours faithfully,
Officer in Charge District Payments.

Burra Record; June 18th, 1919

MOUNT BRYAN.

Welcome Home Social 

A large crowd assembled in the Mt. Bryan Hall on Tuesday, June 3rd, to Welcome Home Cpl. Tom Quinn, M.M., oldest son of Mr and Mrs W. H. Quinn of this town. 

As the returned soldier mounted the platform he was greeted with a rousing ovation, as also was Pte Wilkinson, of Booborowie, who accompanied him. 

Mr A. W. Rush presided. A programme of musical and elocutionary items was supplied by Misses R. Bell, R. Wardle, C. M. Jefferies, and Mr and Mrs W. T. Bell. 

Speeches of welcome and congratulation were made by Messrs A. W. Rush, K. J. Rigby and A. J. Pledge.

Cpl. Quinn was presented by the Chairman with the usual inscribed gold medal, while the Red Cross ladies, according to their custom, handed him a parcel of socks and comforts. Cpl. Quinn suitably responded. Supper was provided by a committee of ladies, after which dancing, of which Mr A. Scholnberg was M.C., brought a happy evening to a close.

MOUNT BRYAN EAST.

A Welcome Home Social was tendered to Cpl. T. J. Quinn, M.M., who has recently returned from active service abroad. Mr J. Thomas occupied the chair. Speeches were made by Mr W. Gare, J. Thomas and B. Dunstan. 

Cpl. Quinn was well-known and respected in this district, and when, three years ago, he answered the country's call and joined the colours, it was not without making a big sacrifice. He was once wounded, but is fairly fit now, and intends taking up his former occupation on the land. 

Cpl. Quinn was presented with a gold medal with an inscription. The attendance was large. Our guest was successful in winning the Military Medal. The following was the programme: — Chorus, Revellers; recitations, Master Theodore Pohlner, Misses Mavis Gare and Stella Pohlner; songs, Mr A. Simmons and Miss G. Tralaggon; 'For he's a jolly good fellow.' Cpl. Quinn heartily thanked all for the warm welcome he had received. A supper and dance followed.

Struth - On Board News; May 14th, 1919

Struth No. 2

One Penny

The Homeward "Trek"

On Page 2 will be a round track chart. It shows the daily run to 13th May inclusive. To-day's run was 255. At this rate Adelaide should be reached in about 13 days. 

BRITISH BATTLES (Concluded)

The Battle of the SELLE, 1st, 3rd & 4th Armies, 17th October to 25th October. 26 Brit. Divns, defeated 31 German Divns. 21,000 prisoners, 450 guns. Forced him from the line of that River and drove still another salient into his defences. It was followed by the final blow. 

The Battle of the MAUBEUGE, 1st, 3rd & 4th Armies, 1st November to 12 Novr. 26 Brit. Divns. defeated 32 German Divns. 19,000 prisoners, 400 guns, which struck at and broke the enemy's last important lateral communications, turned his positions South and forced him to retreat rapidly from Courtraf. This victory completed the great strategical aim of the whole series of battles by dividing, in effect, the enemy's forces into two parts, one on each side of the great natural barrier of the Ardennes. The pursuit of the beaten Enemy all along the Allied Line was only stopped by the Armistice. 

Total captures by British & Allied armies from July 18th to Novr, 11th:-

British        Prisoners: 188,700;    Guns 2840

French       Prisoners: 139,000;    Guns 1880

American   Prisoners: 43,300;      Guns 1421

Belgian       Prisoners: 14,500;      Guns 474

Send along your contributions; now's your chance to win fame as a journalist. Trot along your jokes and short yarns. 

Who is Sigmen Muggins anyhow?

It is rumoured that there are large entries for the 'long-haired' competition. Only a limited supply of curling tongs are on sale. 

The use of "STRUTH" in the early morning for curling papers is advocated. 

It is rumoured that leading competitors will give an exhibition shortly at the Orderly Room. Applications for the part of Barber's Assistant are invited for the occasion. 

AIF Base Records; May 12, 1919

Australian Imperial Force
Base Records Office
Department of Defence
BS Melbourne
12th May, 1919

Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of advice to the effect that No. 4245, Corporal T.J. Quinn, "MM" 32nd Battalion, is returning to Australia per transport "Medic" which left England on 10th April, 1919, and will probably arrive in Melbourne about the 28th May 1919. Further information as to the exact date of arrival and time of disembarkation will be published in the press when available.

It should be noted, however, that owing to possible mutilations in the cabled advice, and other causes, this notification may not be correct pending verification from the roll after the arrival of the troopship.

Any further inquiries should be made to the Staff Officer Returned Soldiers, Military Head-quarters, Keswick, S.A.

Yours faithfully,
JM Lean Major,
Officer in Charge, Base Records.

Weymouth, April 9th, 1919

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I an leaving Weymouth to-night to go on board the "Medic" & will be sailing for Australia to-morrow or next day. I do not know what port we are leaving from or what route we are going, at any rate I expect I will be home early in June. I am lucky getting away so soon, if I had not gone into hospital & stayed with the Batt I would have been this side another 3 months at least.

HMAT Medic

I expect the Military will notify you of my embarkation. I got two letters from Henry Tralaggan over a month old. He put the wrong number on them, he wanted five Pounds which I could easily have given him, but, I expect he has gone home before this.

Well I will close now hoping you are all well & expecting to see you all soon.

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

10/4/19 On the train for Devenport (Plymouth) & will be on board to-night, most likely we will go via Panama.

Dartford Hospital; March 21st, 1919

No 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. We have been under isolation in our ward for a few days, one of the chaps got chicken pox & was sent away & we were isolated, but the isolation will be removed in a few days & when it is, I expect to be sent out, probably to Weymouth.

I got a letter from Davenport in the Batt this morning & he tells me there are not many of them left in France now, the old 32nd forms D Coy of 30th Batt. I changed the last of my French money the other day, as I do not expect to go back to France again. I have got plenty of money, my pay-book has a credit balance of over £40- & I have some £12- on me that I did not spend when on leave.

I do not know how they send the lads home from Weymouth and whether I will have to wait my turn by enlistment or whether I will be sent home as an invalid (some invalid). If I have to wait my turn it will be a good while before I get on a boat but, if I go as an invalid it would not be so very long.

Well I will close now hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

Dartford Hospital; February 25th, 1919

No: 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear people,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well & doing alright.

I got a letter from Mick Griffen when he was nearing Colombo the other day. I also had a letter from Davenport in the Battalion, he told me the boys had got a parcel of mine which, of course, they would make short work of as soon as they heard I was in hospital, but I hope they let me know who it was from.

Things are going on quietly over here & there is very little news, the weather is very mild for this time of the year & spring promises to be fairly early this year. I am still getting my leg massaged.

Well I will close now as there is nothing to write about.

Hoping you are all quite well

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Dartford Hospital; February 19th, 1919

No. 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still "swinging the lead" at Dartford, I am getting along quite well. Since last writing to you I have received 7 letters one from Mum (Nov 26th) one from Kath (Dec 26th) 3 from Annie (Nov 22nd, Dec 4th, Dec 13th) one from Hilda Pohlner & one from Mary Duggan.

I was very shocked to hear Uncle Dan had died & I am very sorry for Aunty Ada & the little boys, but, I hope they get on alright. I do not know how Aunty will be able to keep the place going till Allan grows up.

Things are pretty quiet here & the strikes are mostly over now but there is a threat of a big coal strike, also one of all transport workers for a 44 hour week, so I do not know if there will be any more trouble.

Well I will close now hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Dartford Hospital; February 13th, 1919

No. 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. I was in hospital about a week in Glasgow & then reported back to London. When  I reported there I was quite rid of the "flu" but asked the "doc" if he thought they could give me any treatment to improve my leg & he sent me down here for massage treatment. This is the same place that I was in last year. You see although my leg was good enough for the soldiering business, it will be a different tale when I have to punch a shovel into a heap of metal, or carry a bag of wheat. So if I can get some treatment that would improve it at all I will take it, but I do not think they can do much for me. Anyhow if I stay in hospital long enough I will not be sent back to France & might get home a bit quicker. I do not want to go back to France if I can help it, as the army is not the some as it used to be, nobody cares how things go now & the life seems so useless that I would like to get out of it.

The weather here was very frosty & cold early in the week but to-day was quite a nice day. I went to a "Whist Drive" at Bexley Heath last night & got 3rd prize, a fairly decent pocket wallet. I sent home a parcel to-day with a lot of post-cards & views of different places, also two matchbox holders one a Batt souvenir & one that was given me last night at Bexley Heath. I hope they get home alright.

I saw in the paper here the other day where the Government had received applications from 360,000 people who want to go to Australia, that will give some idea of the advertisement the A.I.F. has given Australia in this country.

Also I believe about 300 of the Aussies English wives, could not find their "husbands" or anyone who knew anything about them at all when they got out there, but of course any girl who married an "Aussie" took a big risk that way. There is going to be a concert here to-night. They generally have about two a week & we have pictures on Tuesday night.

There are a good many cases of influenza about & I see by the papers that it is very bad in Sydney & Melbourne. I do not know how long I will be able to "swing the lead" here but might go out any day.

Well, I will close now, hoping you are all quite well.

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Edinburgh; January 23rd, 1919

King George and Queen Mary Victoria League Clubs
Edinburgh
Ramsay Lodge
The Mound.

 My Dear People

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well.

As you will see from my address, I am in Scotland on 14 day's leave. I only stayed one day in London when I was coming through but I will probably have a day or two there as I go back. London is much better now that it is lit up at night. I will very likely go on to Glasgow for a few days. I saw Bert Lilley as I was coming through Charleroi, he will be going home very soon & I think Frank & Aleck will be going too.

I received the parcel you sent me on 2/8/18 safely and was very pleased to get it, the tin of pudding went Al coming down through France on the train. I sent a note to Miss Kelly thanking her for the socks that were in the parcel. We also received a xmas parcel from the Queensland soldiers fund, this was from two land girls & had among other things a tin of butter, cocoa & milk, sweets etc. & was a very good parcel. The boys in France are very short of smokes, but I am quite independent of that. The French civvies will buy anything in the shape of tobacco at all & pay a big price for it.

It is very foggy here this morning & I am afraid it is not a very good time of the year to be in Scotland. I only arrived here this morning so have not seen anything of the place yet.

Well I will close now hoping you are all well.

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

France; January 9th, 1919

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. I got back to the Batt yesterday from Paris. I had a splendid trip, I did not get into Paris till Boxing day.

It is a very fine city & the life is very gay there. I sent home some views which I hope you get alright. When I was coming home I came on the express to Brussels & stayed there two days, Brussels is a good lively place & the war does not seem to have hurt it much, but everything is dreadful dear. I would not care to have a wife & family to keep over here, a pair of boots cost £6.0.0, meat is 5/- per pound, butter the same, eggs 1/3d each & a ladies costume about £16.0.0 for quite an ordinary dress. The people all seem to have any amount of money. Fritz did not take very much stuff away, as I think he expected to always have Belgium. The towns here all have electric light & any sized place has electric cars.

I came back from Brussels to Charleroi, passing through the village of Waterloo, but the battlefield was a couple of miles away. When I got to Charleroi I met Mat & went out & stayed with him for two days & saw all the other lads. Frank, Aleck, Bert, Noel & Ern Ray, they are all billeted in & around Charleroi & most of them are sleeping in beds in private houses, with the trams (on which they ride for nothing) running right past their doors. They are all very well & lucky to be in such a good place. Ern Ray has not altered much & tells me he is going to get married in England. Mat has gone to Blighty on leave, he told me he was going to Ireland. So you see I had quite a big trip & enjoyed it very much, it cost me £12.0.0 & I was away 16 days. I should get Blighty leave inside two months.

When I got back there were two letters for me one from Dad (October 27th) & one from Annie (October 25th) I was sorry to hear Uncle Dan was ill & hope he is well again now.

(Jar 10th) I got 4 more letters from home today, one from Mum (Nov 11th: one from Annie (Nov 7th) one from Siss (Nov 10th) & a Xmas card from Nell. I was very sorry to hear Uncle Dan was so ill.

A few of our earlier men are going home now & they seem to be getting them home fairly quick now. The winter has been very mild so far & we have not had any snow in France yet. A lot of Canadians & Americans are going down to Nice for their leave. The climate is lovely down there, sunshine all day; it only rains there about twice a year, but, I do not think there is as much life there as there is in Paris.

Well I will close now hoping you are all well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

France; October 19th, 1918

Christmas and New Year Greetings

Christmas 1918

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

From the scent of the gum and the wattle, 

From the mountains of blue far away, 

And where Wallabies range, I guess is a change, 

To fighting the Huns here to-day;

In place of the homestead, this station

In a Clearing our bayonets have won, 

While in trenches of sand long hours we stand

Mid the Coo-ee of rifle and gun;

But we're doing our "bit" you will gather,

And it isn't a small "bit" at that, 

For the name of "Anzacs" will forever remain

As a record fame scored with our bat. 

And when all of this flurry is over, 

And battles and fighting are done, 

by George there will be, for Australia to see

A Corroboree - "Somewhere at Home."

From

TJ Quinn

32nd Battalion 

AIF, France

To Father, 

Wishing you a Merry Xmas ans a Bright & Happy New Year

From Your Soldier Son, 

Tom

19/10/18

Commonwealth of Australia 19/9/19

Commonweath of Australia

Department of Defence, 4th Military District

No. 4245. Cpl. C. T. Quinn, 32nd Batn. M. M.

During the attack near MORLANCOURT, Southh of ALBERT on the night 28/29th July, 1918 Cpl Quinn as section commander showed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. His handling of his section throughout the operation was done with exceptional skill and he worked indefatigably during consolidation of the newly won position. During consolidation he moved around in front of his position and while doing so encountered a party of three of the enemy. These he immediately attacked and killed one, the other two he took as prisoners. His dash and daring as well as his cheerful manner throughout set a spendid example to his men under his command.

19/9/19 

Brig. - General.

Commandant, 4th Military District

Hurdcott; February 23, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite alright. I came back from Furlough on Thursday after a most enjoyable and interesting trip.

When I got back I got 5 letters, one from Hilda Pohlner (Oct 14) one from Kath (Oct 14) 2 from Annie (Oct 14th & Nov 18th) and one from Nell (Nov 21st). In the last two you knew that I had been hit. I also got three parcels from home: one from Siss & George & one from Mt Bryan Red Cross circle. I was mighty pleased to get them as I had given up hope of getting them. I told you before that I had received the parcel with the waistcoat from the M.B.C. people. I wrote to Hilda thanking them but of course the mail route is a risky one now. I have sent you some books of views of Ireland & some Sinn Fien literature which I hope you get safely. I have got a lot of postcards and some little souvenirs to send yet but I don't want them to go on one mail.

I was very sorry to hear Frank Kelly and Charlie Burton were killed & I hope Ralph Thomas has been found alright. I think I will soon be going to Sutton Veney now as I told the doctor this morning that I was quite fit for France. You see I have had a real good time & I think it is nearly time I went back and done a bit more.

I will now give you a description of my trip through Ireland. I left Custon Station (London) Thursday night at 8.40pm and went right across England about 300 miles with only one stop at Crewe to Holyhead. I then got on the boat and went over the Channel in about 3 hours (it is 64 miles) and landed at Kingstown (Dublin), at 6 o'clock. I got in the train there and went straight to Killarney, arriving there at dinner time on Friday. Had a look over the Cathedral there. It has not been finished very long and I believe some priests went to Australia and collected a lot of money to help finish it. Saturday it was rather wet, so we went to see some lace at a convent in Killarney. They are on Red Cross work now as there is no market for lace. I got a couple of handkerchiefs or doilies which I am sending home to Mum. The lace is made by hand and the finer sorts are fairly expensive.

Sunday morning I went to Mass and then with another Corporal and a honeymoon couple, went in a jaunting car for a drive around the beautiful lakes of Killarney.

It is indeed lovely scenery. On Monday I went to a Fair at a little place called Killarglin (about 30 miles from Killarney). The people in this part are supposed to be the most backward and uneducated in Ireland but, I believe, as honest as could be. At the Fair there were cattle and people so thick in the street you could hardly walk through them. The crowd (girls & all) push and bump as bad as a lot of soldiers rushing for pay or dinner. There were a lot of cheap-jacks etc. They're much the same as a show in Australia. All the stock were bought and sold privately.

On Tuesday I went to Cork. It is a very old-fashioned town with about 100,000 inhabitants. There was a bit of a strike on there. A tobacco manufacturer there was paying the girls 3/6 a week for 10 hours a day and they struck. They had his place picketed and there were a lot of police there to keep order. The Irish police are very big, fine men and they do not want there to be any squibs either. I can tell you one afternoon they were escorting two or three fellows down the street and there was a mob of 200 or 300 chasing after them and boo-hooing something splendid.

At Limerick there was some trouble over a steam crane that was being put up. Some of the dock labourers thinking it would do them out of a job. One evening I was standing on the quay and a wagon belonging to the people putting up the crane was being escorted by about 20 police along the street. A yelling mob was following it. Some police who were guarding the yard rushed out with rifles and let the wagon in. Then the police rushed the mob and drove them off the quay like a mob of sheep. I take it that these are quite everyday occurrences in the poor misgoverned Ireland.



View Larger Map

On the Wednesday I went out to Blarney castle, about 10 miles from Cork, and kissed the Blarney stone. It is a very pretty place.

Thursday I went to Limmerick and then on to Dublin, Saturday night. I had not heard or seen much of Sinn Fein till I got to Limerick, but I went to a lecture there on the Dublin Rebellion by one of the men who was in it and sentenced to death, but was eventually released. I had my eyes considerably opened by what I heard and saw there. A good many of those present were in the uniform of the volunteer Republican Army. I did not think they would be allowed to wear that in public. They have officers and I saw a good bit of saluting being done by the privates. The Officers wear Shamrocks instead of stars on their sleeves. Some of the speaking was done in Gaelic and it is Sinn Fein's idea to get rid of everything English. Government, Language and all. I am afraid they are taking on a hopeless task. Any one of them would cut your throat for a rifle. So when the Irish soldiers come home on leave from France, the police take charge of their rifles till they go back. Of course everybody had their eyes on me but I clapped and hurrahed with the rest when they sang songs and gave recitations, some of which I have sent in a bundle of Sinn Fein stuff. It seemed a bit rich for me to be wearing a British uniform and cheering rank Sedition. I would have given quids to have had Uncle Jimmy with me.

Anyone I spoke to always wanted to know what part my grand-parents came from - but I do not even know what county they came from (terrible disgrace), you must write and tell me as it would be quite easy for me to trace some of my poor relations if I went to Ireland again. They also pointed out to me that it was on account of bad English laws that my people had to leave Ireland. But I don't bear England any grudge for that, seeing Australia has a climate more suitable for me to live in than Ireland. Dublin is a very nice little town with some lovely buildings and Phoenix park is a magnificent place.

The museum there has a wonderful stuff and I even saw some of our old South Australian stamps - it would take a week to go through it properly. The Art gallery is splendid too. I went over Guiness' Brewery - it is an immense industry. When you had had a look over the place they treat you to some of their stout, but I don't like any liquor much. Sackville street, which was knocked about a bit during the rebellion is still in ruins and the GPO is still the same.

I got back to London Thursday morning and went and saw the King's Guard change at Buckingham Palace (very smart) and then caught the train home after a most enjoyable fortnight.

The whole trip, fare and all cost me £14.0.0 and I came home with £11.0.0 in my belt as I did not intend to be short of money on my trip and I had everything I wanted and lived pretty swanky.

Well I must close now, hoping you are all well as I am.

I remain,

Your loving Son and Brother,

Tom