Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Patrick, son of Irish immigrants Alfred and Margaret Quigley, was born at Kurow on 5 July 1886. Margaret, it appears, died on 4 April 1888 on the birth of her fourth child at Oamaru, aged 28 years. Baby John lived only a few minutes. Margaret is buried at Oamaru. In 1889 Alfred married Mary Cusack who became mother to the three surviving children – twins Alfred and Catherine (Kate), and Patrick. Alfred, junior, was killed in action in 1917 in France. Kate died in in 1904, aged 19, and was buried at Morven, where the family lived. Patrick and his siblings, Alfred and Catherine, were educated at Otiake and Awamoko schools in North Otago. The family later moved to Morven.

So young was Patrick when his mother died that, on enlisting, he did not know her name, only that she was deceased. Private Quigley had a checkered start to his service however. He was initially rejected for military service in July 1916, at Waimate, as medically unfit for service. But, he eventually attested for service in September 1917. Initially it appears he was classed B2, but his examination was deferred as he was under the influence of liquor, eventually being classed as ‘A’. In December though was charged for desertion at Trentham military camp when he failed to appear at roll-call on the date his leave expired. Quigley reported back on 19 January 1918 instead. At the court martial he pleaded not guilty, but was convicted and punished with 60 days detention. The sentence was mitigated when, in the New Year, Patrick embarked for service on 8 February 1918. He left with the 34th Reinforcements, D Company, Otago Infantry, part of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade (NZRB). Patrick’s brother, Alfred, had been killed in action in February 1917, some seven or eight months prior to his own call-up. One wonders how much this may have affected Patrick’s eagerness to serve.

Arriving at Sling Camp in England he was posted to E Company at the end of March before heading overseas (to France) in mid-May. On 30 July 1918 Patrick’s Commanding officer recorded that Patrick had suffered a self-inflicted bullet wound to his left ankle the day before. Patrick claimed he thought his rifle was unloaded and while cleaning it, the trigger caught and the rifle discharged. The incident was reported as self-inflicted (S/I) and Patrick was tried and convicted. In January 1919 the wound had healed and he was classified as fit for duty, but still had some disability in walking.

With the war having drawn to a close, Patrick sailed for home in July 1919 on the “Port Hacking”, arriving home in August 1919. He was discharged form service in New Zealand in September of that year. Patrick served 36 days service in New Zealand and 1 year and 194 days overseas. He received the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service.

Patrick returned to Morven, where the local community presented him, and other local soldiers, a commemorative medal honouring his service. Quigley worked as a albourer after the war, eventually passing away on 13 March 1955 at Waimate. He was interred at the Waimate Cemetery. His wife, Mary Ann, whom he had married in the 1940s, died seven moths later and was buried with Patrick.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [5 AAugusyt 2020 & 26 May 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [26 May 2021]; School Admission records (Oamaru Branch NZSG) [26 May 2021]; Waimate Cemetery headstone image & burial record (Waimate District Council) [27 May 2021]; Waimate Daily Advertiser, 9 August 1919, Timaru Herald, 11 August 1919 (Papers Past) [06 September 2014; 26 May 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin, South Canterbury Museum; Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.