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.