Private Lawrence Quinn has been recognised for his service in World War I through Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance Program.
The rising sun badge of the Australian Army has been added to the street sign for Quinn Street, Kepnock, which was named for Private Quinn on 21 November 1957.
Lawrence was born in Bundaberg on 17 January 1886 to parents Henry and Margaret Quinn.
He was 30 years old and working as a Draper’s Assistant when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 1 February 1916.
According to newspaper reports and Council meeting minutes from 1957 when the decision was made to name the street in his honour, Lawrence was well known in Bundaberg sailing and yachting circles prior to his enlistment.
Both his parents had passed away by 1916, and he named his sister Rose Quinn, also a resident of Barolin Street Bundaberg, as his next of kin on the enlistment papers.
National Archives of Australia records show Lawrence’s sister Rose and other family wrote to him regularly but as Lawrence was initially not given a service number, there was a delay of several months before he received their letters.
Lawrence served in the 3/12 Machine Gun Company 3rd Reinforcements, and after training in Queensland, the unit sailed from Brisbane on HMAT “Clan McGillivray” on 1 May 1916 for further training.
On 3 October, the unit embarked from Folkestone England on board “Princess Henrietta” to join the No.12 Australian Machine Gun Company in the field in Boulogne, France in early November.
The University of NSW AIF Project recorded from the Roll of Honour Circular that on 7 January 1917, Lawrence was at Guedecourt, France, with three other privates and Lieutenant Hartley from Rockhampton.
Lt Hartley was leading them as a gun team to the front line when they were hit with a HE Shell, killing Hartley and fatally wounding Lawrence.
Lawrence was taken to 1st Anzac Main Dressing station (France) with a compound fractured right tibia but sadly died of his wounds on 8 January 1917, nine days before his 31st birthday.
He is buried at Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France, where his grave bears the inscription “In Loving Remembrance of Our Dear Brother”.
Lawrence was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914/1915 Star for his service.
His sister Rose received a memorial plaque, memorial scroll and King’s Message in honour of his sacrifice.
Private Lawrence Quinn is listed on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and the Bundaberg War Memorial.
Service Number: 292
Information on Private Lawrence Quinn’s life and service is from the National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and UNSW AIF Project.
More information about Bundaberg Regional Council’s Streets of Remembrance program and how to nominate a street or service person is available here.
