GALLIPOLI AND FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 75, 29 March 1928, Page 10

GALLIPOLI AND FRANCE.

McQUAY'S SERVICE RECORD

DISAPPEARED AT ARMENTIERES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON", Wednesday.

The Base Records Office has not received an official communication of any kind from Australia regarding the soldier who has been in a mental hospital in Sydney for eleven years, and who is supposed now to be Private Thomas George McQuay, of Stratford. A visitor from Sydney who called at the Base Records Office on Monday afternoon had certain particulars relating to the unknown soldier who, is was thought, might be a New Zealander. Following a communication with Australia by cable\vesterday afternoon a reply was received this morning from Sydney giving details of the man and also the mother's address at Orlando Street, Stratford. It was also stated that there are now two persons who have identified the man as McQuay.

A Native of Auckland. A search of the records soon brought forward the file of Thomas George McQuay. He was born at Auckland on August 25, 1886, and in February, 1915, he enlisted for service. He was at the time a carpenter, and was employed by Mr. J. W. Boon, of Stratford. The personal description of McQuay.at the date of attestation agrees with that of the circular just issued in Australia in most particulars, except that there are more tattoo marks on his left arm than are noted in his military file of 1915. Mr. W. E. Porter, of Canberra, has stated, however, that he tattooed the upper part of McQuay's arm with marks corresponding with those on the man in the Australian hospital.

In the circular from Australia it is stated that the unknown patient enlisted at the outbreak of war and went away] with the first convoy in October, 1914. This, however, does not agree with the records file, which states that McQuay went into camp on February 16, 1915, and embarked on June 13 of the same year. A perusal of the file shows that he landed in Egypt and on September 19, 1915, joined his unit, the Auckland Infantry Battalion, at Gallipoli. On November 2, 1915, McQuay was admitted to the field ambulance at Mudros suffering from bronchitis. i

In April, 1916, McQuay embarked on the Franconia at Port Said for France and in July of the same year at Armentieres—l2 years and nine months ago— he failed to report. Since then the New Zealand Defence Department has had no knowledge of his movements. Investigation Wot Complete.

After consideration and confirmation of certain details it was decided to communicate with the parents. They were urged, however, not to become too hppcful as the investigations are not yet complete. The New Zealand Government's agent in Sydney has been asked to obtain further details of the soldier and the Defence Department has also asked the Australian military authorities to furnish particulars as to how McQuay came under their control.

The officer in charge of the Base Records Office, on being asked if the Australian authorities had not during the past ten years notified his office of the unknown patient and requested that efforts to identify him should be made, stated that the first intimation he received about there being such a patient was on Monday last.