Patrick Joseph Quinane - was born on 6th January 1894 in the family residence at Westgarth Street, Fairfield in Melbourne. At the time of his birth, Patrick's father was 39 and his occupation was "Railway Employee".

At the age of 19, Patrick sailed from Melbourne to Sydney on board the "Indarra", arriving on 11 August 1913. He was the first member of this family to move to Sydney, however, the reason for his move is unknown.

On 4 December 1914, Patrick enlisted in the 3rd Reinforcements of the 7th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at the Holdsworthy Army Base and was assigned Trooper No 790. His mother is listed as Mrs J A Quinane of 41 Fenwick Street, Clifton Hill, Melbourne. Patrick's address was 42 Glenmore Road Paddington and his occupation was "Boundary Rider". He was described as 22 yrs 11 months of age, 5' 4 3/4'', 134 lbs with fair complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His term of service in the army was described as "during war and 4 months after". Like many enlistees, Patrick lied about his age, adding 2 years to his age so he could list prior to his 21st Birthday.

He was posted as a Trooper with the rank of private and appointed to "B" Squadron within the 7th Light Horse Regiment on 22 April 1915.

Patrick proceeded to join the M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces) Gallipoli on board HMT Litzow on 15 May 1915.

He was wounded at the Dardenelles on 22 July 1915 while part of the 60 Regt 7th Light Horse Regiment, and was moved to the '1st Aust Gas Clear Stat' and was noted to have a ' foreign body in eye'.

The oral family history is that Patrick suffered the injury when his "periscope sight" was hit by the bullet of a Turkish sniper. The periscope rifle was invented by L/Cpl. Beech of Sydney in May 1915. Mirrors allowed the user to sight the rifle while completely invisible to the enemy and the rifle was accurate up to 300 metres.

Patrick disembarked at Malta on 29 July 1915 from the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle, and was admitted to St Andrews Hospital there. St Andrews noted 'wounded left eye slight'.

In 2010, Patrick's granddaughter, Anne Quinane was Australia's High Commissioner to Malta and the following article appeared in the Times of Malta on  4th May 2010:

This year marks the 95th anniversary of the landings on Gallipoli, which were designed to knock Turkey out of World War I. The ill-fated campaign, the brain child of Winston Churchill, lasted from April 25, 1915 until the final evacuation of the peninsula on January 9, 1916.

Thousands of allied casualties were evacuated to Malta for medical treatment during this period. One of the Australians sent here was none other than the grandfather of the current Australian High Commissioner to Malta, Anne Quinane.

According to his service file, Patrick Joseph Quinane was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and had been employed as a boundary rider/electrician prior to enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force at Holdsworthy, New South Wales, on December 4, 1914. He was posted to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment with the rank of Private that same day. Both the obligatory medical examination and taking of the King's Oath were undertaken on December 5.

Private Quinane's description upon enlistment is as follows:

Age: 22 years and 11 months
Height: 5 feet and 4 3/4 inches
Weight: 134 pounds
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark Brown
Religion: Roman Catholic

This reinforcement departed Sydney aboard HMAT A1 Hymettus, on February 8, 1915, destined for Egypt. He was taken on strength by the 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment on April 6,1915 at Maadi and appointed to 'B' Squadron on April 22.

The allied troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula on April 25 and met stiff opposition from the Turkish defenders. As a result of heavy casualties, and missed opportunities, things were not going well and reinforcements were urgently required. It was then decided to utilise the Light Horse regiments, which had been left behind in Egypt, in a dismounted role. The regiment departed Alexandria for Gallipoli aboard the transport Lutzow on May 15.

Private Quinane was wounded in the left eye on July 24 and admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, on North Beach. He was then placed aboard a Fleet Sweeper for transfer to hospital on the island of Lemnos the next day. It was later decided to evacuate him to Malta aboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle, which disembarked him at Malta on July 29. He was admitted to St Andrew's Hospital, Pembroke, that same day.

The local medical staff decided it was necessary to send Private Quinane to England for further treatment. He embarked the hospital ship Letitia on August 8 and was admitted to the 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, on August 16. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the medical staff, nothing could be done to save the eye and it had to be removed.

As a result of this event, Private Quinane was returned to Australia aboard HMT Suevic on March 11, 1916 and discharged from the Australian Imperial Force as medically unfit on September 25.

 He embarked for England on the 8 August 1915 and arrived there on 16 August 1915, again being admitted to hospital. This time it was the 4th London General Hospital at Delimark Hill. There it was noted 'Bullet wound. Left eye removed Severe'.

Patrick Quinane sitting - taken while on furlough in London

On 18 November 1915, he departed for Australia, arriving 11 March 1916 and was discharged on 25 September 1916. In respect of his war service, Patrick was issued the 1914/15 Star, and after the war, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In 1983, it was also discovered that Patrick, by way of his service on Gallipoli became eligible for the Anzac Commemorative Medallion and this was issued to his widow Irene Quinane. World War 1 Medals .

Like many WWI soldiers, Patrick kept a diary of his military service which is held by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The following is a transcipt of Patrick's diary

Trooper Patrick Joseph Quinane 790 7th Regiment Australian Light Horse 2nd L. H. Brigade
5/2/1915	Rank march from camp, Liverpool 5 mile L H through Sydney Good sent off. Left camp 7.30 am arrived Sydney 8.30 Sailed SS Hymettus to Melbourne arrived 4 o’clock …………. Off heads. 7.30 anchored at Williamstown
Feb 8th	Down to P. Melb – 6 hrs leave
Feb 9	In Port sailed …. 4.30
Feb 11	Arrived Adelaide
Feb 12 & 13	Taking Horse
Feb 13	Left Adelaide
Feb14	Australian Bight
Feb 18	Sighted Cape Lewin, WA – farewell Australia
Feb 28	Sighted Whale, cricket on board
Feb 22	Organization of Black Hand Society. Black Hand Casino, music hall and hairdressing saloon opens also deck cricket and boxing opens
March 3	Calin Sea Father Neptune came on board crossing the line. Captain Evans orders if refusing to be dipped. Concert in evening myself.
March 4
March 8	Sighted Africa coast
March 9
March 11	Red Sea
March 12	Sighted Arabian coast
March 13	Passed Mount Sinai
March 14	Entered Suez Canal Suez 8 pm
March 15	Port Said – coal and water left 8 pm for Alexandra
March 16	Arrived Alex
March 17	Unload horses
March 18	Aboard Cairo train. Trooper Powell said: Light Horse killed – fell between carriages
March 19	Visited Cairo
May 15	Left ? enroute ? Alexandra
May 16	Embarked  ? for Dardanelles
May 20	Disembarked by pontoon under fire
May 22	In the trenches
May 25	Sinking of ? in ? two destroyers to rescue fired ? shots ? with keel half out of water
May 29	12 o’clock midnight – Coo-ee and 5 rounds rapid fire on Turk Trenches 2 am skill fire ?? Turks ??? persistent 4 am – Lucky escape bullet occupies shirt I was in moment before firing at 350 yds. Very heavy here. Relieved 9 am
May 30	???? Barb wire death trap Left trenches 8 days rest
May 31	3 men smothered
June 1	Outpost
June 2	Trenches sapping Turks charge heavy loss
June 3	Rest 12 Pm Water Trenches N G Charge our left 2 trenches held, driven back heavy loss. Turks dead in trenches
June 4	Trenches Turks charge under M Guns 7,000 killed. Our left. Charge ? trenches on right bayonets busy Charge on Holly? Turks driven back by machine gun fire 11,12,Batt 5.6.7 LH charge on right  lost – Heavy ???
June 6	Sunday Orderly Trooper
June 7	German spy captured in our trench – said 27th Light Horse Shot first Turk
June 8	Issued Lew? Ads Our road making shrapnel valley
June 12	Received letter from home dated May 4th. Also “Ags” May 5 ? + Messenger
June 14	Bomb Practicing Sent P Card home Discovered J.A Coopers photo in Sydney Mail concert on battlefield
June 15	Stewart AM shot dead ??? shrapnel heavy
June 16	Bread issued Wrote to Bob Cooper to England A.D.A.C Park Raining Rough Coast ?
June 17	Shrapnel heavy ?
June 18	Wrote to Frank George and May Gun out of action 2 killed
June 19	Back in trenches. Right flank Outpost sniping. Lacks lucky shot saved my left ? 15 yards ?
June 20	Church Service returned 9 o’clock trenches
June 21	Received letters from F George dated May 5, from Bill Sims dated ? from Salt Lake City USA supports
June 22	Received letters and papers from home dated April 20 May 14th Writing home also F George & Bill Sims & home Sand bag ally ½ Turks flying
June 23	Trenches ?
June 25
June 26	Water, received paper home Australian
June 27	Sunday service, trenches
June 28	Cut trenches 10 o’clock rest Trenches 12 o’clock ? 7th advance retired
June 29	Bringing in dead and wounded
June 30	Support, water, fatigue Burying dead – Turks Attack 11 o’clock bayoneting along parapets Counter attacked inflicted heavy ??
July 1	Sent letters home F George, Julia Hamilton, ?????? Trenches
July 2	Rest
July 3	Trenching – Fatigue
July 4	Trenching – Fatigue Received letter from Esther date May 12th
July 5	Trenches Received letter car from home date May 19
July 6	Rest day night patrol met turkish
July 7	Water Fatigue Support
July 8	Trenching & Support
July 9	Trenches and Trenching
July 10	Trenches
July 11	Supports and fatigue
July 12	?? successful Received PC Ags & advocate from ?
July 13	Trenches Sent letter home & Esther also PC to F George
July 14	Trenching Supports
July 15	Fatigue
July 16	Water Trenching
July 17	Trenches
July 18	Trenches & Trenching
July 19	Fatigue Wrote letter home
July 20	Trenches
July 21	Rest & Support
July 22	Trenches
July 23	Support
July 24	Trenches wounded in eye hospital
July 25	Aboard Ulyssess Hospital ship
July 26	Aboard Gloucester Castle Hospital Ship for treatment
July 27	Sailed from Lennos Habour
July 28	On board ???
July 29	Admitted to St Andrews Hospital
July 30	Treatment
July 31	Consultation
August 1	Hesitation
August 2	Operation – lost left eye
August 3-6	In Bed Drew 2/- hospital pay
August 7	Up out of bed Wrote letters to Dool, home, Frank George, Bob Cooper, PC to ? Roberts
August 8	Left St Andrews Hospital aboard Hosp ship Letilia for Engalnd sailed 2 pm
August 9	Calin, treatment
August 10	Calin, treatment
August 11	Calin, treatment Sighted Gibralter 4.30 pm took patient aboard sailed again 6.30 pm
August 12	8.30 am coast of Portugal Cape St Vincent 5 am Cape Rodd passed Cape ? Scotch ???
August 13	Choppy sea, whales everywhere
August 14	Well on passed Cape Ushaul – French coast
August 15	2 am Plymouth Roads layto till 6 am took Chac? (East) side Isle of Wight arrived Southampton harbour 4.30 Disembark ed 7.30 Aboard train for London 8.20 pm. Arrived 11.15 in cars to hosp ? bed
August 16	Dressing 9 o’clock in wounds
August 17	Sent to bed typhoid fever
August 18	Received letter from High Commissioner of Australia
August 28 to September 2	Received a letter from Miss Bateman
September 3	Answered Miss Bateman’s letter
September 7	Zeppelin raid on arsenal at Wool?
September 8	Zeppelin raid on London – attempted London bridge 2 buses blown up, 16 killed Sent letter home
September 9	Sent letter home. Received soap from Australian War Contingent Association
September 12	Visit by R W Campbell and friend
September 13	Received letter from Bateman
September 14	Wtoe to J M Hamilton, to F George, to Berta Kohlman, to O.C. Malta and Jack Ryan
September 16	Send letter to Miss Bateman
September 17	Bread and Milk 3 days ago Sent letter to Les Roberts

On 24 April 1916 a copy of his service record was made for 'war pensions'. In November 1953, the Attorney-General's Department wrote to the Secretary of the Army seeking details of Patrick's war service for the purposes of recognition of this service for furlough purposes.

Patrick was aware that his cousin John Quinane was also fighting in World War 1 because in May 1918 Patrick wrote to the Army seeking details of John's condition and received the reply on John's page.

On 7 December 1918, Patrick married Irene Therese Priestly at Smithfield in Sydney. Patrick had known Irene at least since May 1918 because the letter he received from the Army regarding his cousin John was addressed to him care of Irene's father, Frederick Priestly. Patrick and Irene had 5 children together.

In 1935 Patrick contested the NSW State Elections in the seat of Kogarah for the Federal Labour Party, but only polled 3.41% of the votes. Despite this loss, Patrick remained interested in politics and in 1965 forwarded his papers relating to his dealings with H.V. (Doc) Evatt between 1941 and 1949 to Finn Crisp in the hope that Crisp might write a biography of Evatt similar to the one Crisp had written on Chifley.

On his return to Australia, Patrick took up the cause of rehabilitation and welfare entitlements for visually impaired veterans, joining and becoming the NSW State President of the Partially Blind Soldiers' Association. Patrick attended the inaugural federal conference of the Association, held in Hobart commencing on 22 September 1947 (The Hobart Mercury 20 Sep 1947, page 6) and later on the day the photo below was taken, became the National President (The Daily News, Perth, 18 Oct 1949, page 2).

In 1951, Patrick attended a conference of all ex-serviceman's organisations on pensions At the conference, Patrick states, "All pensions should be stablised and varied only according to the cost of living rise and fall." (The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, 31 Oct 1951, page 5). Patrick also attended the 1953 federal conference of the Partially Blind Soldiers' Association held in Adelaide. (The Advertiser, Adelaide, 9 Sep 1953, page 3).

Patrick also had a hand in providing support for war widows and their families. An article in the  Sydney Morning Herald on 19 December 1938 (page 6), notes that "The society (of War Widows) had its beginnings in small gatherings of war widows at the home of Mr and Mrs J. P. Quinane of Sans Souci."

Patrick also had a keen interest in politics and became a member of the Australian Labor Party and later the ALP Branch Secretary for the federal seat of Barton, held by ALP Minister for External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt. Patrick's displeasure of Evatt's lack of interest in local issues affecting Barton constituents surfaced in 1942 when Evatt ignored Branch instructions on the vote for conscription to the south-west Pacific theatre and grew as Evatt was out of the country attending to his Ministerial obligations. Patrick contested Evatt for pre-selection in Barton in 1948, but was defeated 196 votes to 33 (SMH 18 Dec 1949, page 4).

Patrick's wife Irene Therese Priestley also had a keen interest in politics. Irene was part of the delegation of women who travelled to Canberra in March 1944 to present the Australian Women's Charter to the Prime Minister (The Canberra Times, 1 Mar 1944, page 4).

Patrick died on the 23rd of June 1967 of heart disease and chronic respiratory problems at the Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydney and is buried in the Northern Suburbs Cemetery.

Children of Patrick Joseph Quinane and Irene Theresa Priestley were:

Joan Patricia Quinane born 14/11/1919 and died 6th July 2003. Joan married Harold Patrick Whelan on 27th July 1940 and they had three children.

Frederick Douglas Quinane born 6/1/1921 and died 8th June 2005. Fred married Mary Patricia Craddock on 11th October 1947 and they had six children.

Phillip Michael Quinane born 26/1/1922 and died 16th November 1997. Phillip married Doreen Montgomery and they had two children.

Kevin E Quinane born 6/3/1927 - Sadly, Kevin died on 31 July 1927 at the age of 4 months of erypsipelas, at this time Patrick's occupation is given as Mail Officer, PNG Department and his address was "Quinton", Meriel Street, Sans Souci.

Yvonne Camillies Quinane born 20/1/1925 is only surviving sibling. Yvonne married Jack William Border and they had two children. Jack died on 16th March 1953 and Yvonne later married Dave Younger and they had one child.

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