John Gerard Quinn (SN 1380) born in Ballarat, was a 20 year old draper’s assistant when he enlisted in Ballarat on March 29th 1916. Assigned to the 39th Infantry Battalion he embarked aboard the Ascanius on May 27th and sailed to England. In September he was transferred to the 8th Battalion and moved to France. His service was dominated by a series of discipline breaches and an extended period in hospital due to a social disease. In 1917 a review of his service noted ‘Will do no work. Quite undisciplined.’ He was returned to Australia aboard the Ulysses, disembarked on November 13th 1917 and was discharged on November 14th.

His brother Michael also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.