A FAMILY'S SACRIFICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

A FAMILY'S SACRIFICE

Five Enlisted — One Is Left

Patriotism to the Empire and its cause in 1014 reached a standard in New Zealand of which the Dominion has every reasop to bo proud, a pride that even to-day, 25 years after, mellows

even in the depth of the sacrifice it entails. Many families have records of sacrifice that cut deep across a generation, and the death of a Digger a week or so ago brings to light the case of a family of five sons that gave much, to the Empire in its hour of gravest need. In the McQuinn family of Thames, there were five sons in 1914, to-day there i-s but one —war worn, permanently disabled, a veteran with many scaxs. James McQuinn enlisted in 1914 at the Thames and went through Gallipoli and France, ft Main Body man. He was gassed and wounded and returned in 1017. After long years of suffering he passed to his reward on July 20 last. Ten days later, his brother John followed him across the Great Divide. He left New Zealand with the 27th Reinforcements, Hawke's Bay Regiment, was gassed and suffered heart trouble a-s a i-mi sequence. Joseph McQuinn will be remembered y many tunnellers. He enlisted in 1915, vas gassed, returned in 1918, and passed • way a year later. Another brother, William, was in ainp in the early part of the war, when national requirements, and the need for manning the farms in the Dominion, were the grounds on which the authorities sent him back to his civilian avoca'ion. He, however, died two years ago. The fifth, and sole surviving brother s Hugh McQuinn, who left New Zealand with the Main Body. He was transferred later to Lord Liverpool's Own and -aw much service. He was wounded, and returned in 1918, and is now living at Thames. All five lived and enlisted at Thames; members of a highly respected family, whose record of service and sacrifice is perhaps unique in the Dominion.