Major Hugh Quinn, 15th Bn AIF.
Born at Charters Towers, Queensland on 6 May 1888, Hugh was an accountant and active member of the militia (Kennedy Infantry Regiment) with which he gained a commission in 1908 (promoted Lieutenant in 1911 and Captain in 1912). He was also, for a time, the North Queensland Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
Upon outbreak of war, the Kennedy Regt was employed in garrison duties on Thursday Island, but Hugh and 500 others volunteered for duty with the 2nd Infantry, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in the Pacific ... an unsuccessful move which prompted him to join the AIF where he became commander of ‘C'company of the 15th battalion.
Hugh left Australia for Egypt on 22 December 1914, he landed at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915 and, on 29 April, he was ordered to hold a position at the head of Monash Valley. This extremely dangerous and exposed position (which became known as ‘Quinn's Hill' or ‘Quinn's Corner' before finally becoming known to history as ‘Quinn's Post') was held and defended for the next month by various units but, on 29 May (following the detonation of several mines), the Turks entered the trenches at Quinn's Post. Hugh took it upon himself to reconnoitre the area prior to the Australian counter-attack and he was shot dead upon entering the trenches. The ensuing counter-attack was successful and Quinn's Post remained in Australian hands until the evacuation. Hugh is now buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Turkey.
29 May 1915
Research by: David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
