The Soldier's Details

Jim was working as a miner and residing Ewington, near Collie when he enlisted.  He recorded his married sister Kate Henderson as his NOK as both parents were deceased.

He enlisted AIF Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s Headquarters Company No. 3 Platoon becoming L/Cpl under Quartermaster Capt Phelps and Lt. O’Sullivan.

Quinn was wounded in action 13/2/1942 and admitted to No. 1 Malaya General Hospital with a shrapnel wound to his left hand resulting in loss of the fourth finger. Discharged to unit on 27/2/1942.

As a POW in Singapore, Quinn joined the first work party to leave Singapore ‘A’ Force Burma, Green force No. 3 Battalion.

Please read further about Green Force

 

 

Back L-R: Jimmy Quinn, Les Marriott, Johhny Clare, Clarrie Henderson, Ralph Hadfield. Front L-R: Don Maning, Wenn, Ern Ricketts.

Jim Quinn marries 23 Feb 1946 at Mandurah to Bessy Dodd.

 

He was a Collie boy, please read about their memorial.

Jimmy Quinn and his red-hot toilets at Victoria Point, Burma.

Jimmy was a Collie boy. He is described as a ‘busy little no nonsense bloke’ by Les Cody ‘Ghosts in Khaki’. Jimmy became responsible for setting up the latrines at Victoria Point Camp, Burma for ‘A’ Force, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.

He used half a dozen burnt out oil drums which he cut out holes on the top.

Privacy for these latrines was provided by bamboo and atap screens.

The only problem the users found was that the drums became so red hot as they were in full sun – anybody who sat their tail on the seat would be guaranteed their skin would turn purple!

Those with diarrohea found their lives were further threatened at Jimmy’s latrines!!

Jimmy never bothered too much with those complaining – pointing out that if the seats were too hot for the men then they were ‘too bloody hot for the flies’.

In Jimmy’s mind, flies were a far greater problem!  Doctors on the line would be the first to agree!

One the railway was completed about end of 1943, the Japanese began moving all POWs in Burma south to one of 4 or 5 large POW Camps or Hospitals.  Jim went to Tamarkan, later Bangkok and was recovered from Nacompaton when the war ended.

 

 

Jim sailed as a 6 year old from London on 8 Jan 1914 on ‘Demosthenes’ with his mother Mary (42) and siblings Catherine (15) John (13) and William (10).

Jim’s sister Catherine married Frank (known as Jock) Henderson about 1914.

We cannot be sure where Henry Dodds was – if he had died in Scotland prior to the family leaving.  We have not been successful seeking answers!

 

Below:  Collie POW Jock Isaac mentions Quinn and Fuhrmann being with him in Burma.

 

 

Above:  Bessy Dodd.

After the war Jimmy married 1946 to Elizabeth Johnstone  Dodd whom we believe was known as ‘Bessy’. She was born in Collie in 1910 to parents Lowes Dodd who was born at Newcastle, NSW and Mary Ralston Johnstone who had married 1907 at Collie.    Bessy’s mother Mary died at Collie in 1935 and her father Lowes died Mandurah 1952.

 

Jim was especially close to his mother being the youngest child.

In 1954, 1958, 1968 Electoral Rolls Jim and Bessy are residing at Ewington, with Jim working as a miner.

We know Bessy and  Jim had a family of two sons.

 

Below:  it appears Jim’s brother Wiliam continued to work as a miner in the Collie area.

 

Below:  every year the Quinn siblings placed notices in the newspaper for the anniversary of their mother Mary Quinn’s death, all except John.   We do not know of his life.

 

Jimmy Quinn’s death was recorded in the February 1974 edition of ‘Barb Wire & Bamboo’ POW magazine. Jim had died 5 Oct 1973 aged 66 years at Ewington, near Collie. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.  Bessy Quinn died 1986 at Busselton.