Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A fine Second War ‘British Expeditionary Force’ M.C. group of six awarded to Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class the Reverend J. E. G. Quinn, Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, attached 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was briefly taken Prisoner of War in North Africa, and was later killed in action at Salerno

Military Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1940’ and additionally privately engraved ‘Rev. J. E. G. Quinn’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the campaign awards all privately engraved ‘Rev. J. E. G. Quinn M.C.’; together with the named Army Council enclosure, extremely fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

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Provanenace: Dr. A. W. Stott Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 1997.

M.C. London Gazette 20 December 1940.
The following recommendation was extracted from War Office records: ‘Rev. Quinn acted as chaplain to the Battalion throughout the operations in Belgium and France and was outstanding for the cool manner in which he tended to the wounded without a thought for his own safety. On every occasion when the Battalion occupied a defensive position he refused to go back to the transport lines but stayed in the forward area, encouraging the men and by his personal example of fearlessness inspiring all who came in contact with him. On several occasions, owing to the M.O. becoming a casualty, he took charge of the R.A.P. He was badly wounded on 28 May, while tending the injured. He showed a fine example of coolness and courage.’

The Reverend Joseph Edward Gough Quinn was born on 28 March 1914, the son of the Reverend Chancellor James Quinn, of St. Judes Church, Belfast, was educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was Ordained in Deacon in 1937 and Priest in 1938, and served as Chaplain of St. Peter’s Hall, Oxford from 1938 (as well as serving as a College Lecturer in Theology and Modern History). He was commissioned Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (Reserve of Officers) on 1 September 1939, and served during the Second World War with the British Expeditionary Force, attached to the 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, in Europe from 31 March 1940. Acting as the Battalion’s Medical Officer, he was wounded on 28 May 1940, and was evacuated to the U.K. on 31 May; recovering, he embarked for the Middle East in May 1941, and served with both the 8th Army in North Africa, and the 9th Army in the Middle East.

One incident of note occurred to him during his time attached to the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards in North Africa. Sharing a jeep with a driver and Major Aikenhead, and finding themselves stuck in a slow moving convoy driving towards Tunis, he suggested leaving the convoy and taking a short cut. They made good progress until ambushed; Aikenhead was hit by three bullets and they were all captured. Quinn asked the German soldiers for some bandages for Aikenhead. The Germans also suggested that he should pray with him. The enemy withdrew, but indicated that they would send an ambulance to collect them. As this did not arrive, Quinn departed on his own towards British lines, picking up a German soldier who surrendered to him en route. He reached safety and an ambulance was sent to collect the wounded Aikenhead. Quinn viewed the whole incident as an escapade, but the Guards C.O. was furious with him, and blamed him for ‘swanning about’ and losing a valuable officer.

In early March 1943 Quinn confided to his diary (held by the Imperial War Museum) that ‘rather than becoming hardened by battles, I am more nervous than I was during the retreat to Dunkirk. I find having got through so much that I am most anxious not to be caught at the end.’ But he was not to survive the War. Taking part in the Salerno landings he was killed in action on 23 September 1943- the casualty report reads: ‘Attached to 3 Company (in line), and was going across to another and was killed by a direct hit of mortar bomb.’ He is buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.

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