The AIF Project

Guy William QUARTERMAN

Regimental number1409
Place of birthToorak, Victoria
SchoolCamberwell Grammar School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation30
Height6' 2"
Weight212 lbs
Next of kinMartha Quarterman, Cunyacpeal, Toorak, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in Cadets.
Enlistment date11 November 1914
Place of enlistmentShepparton, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 2 February 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll1277
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 26 April 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death41
Age at death from cemetery records30
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 25), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
45
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Martha QUARTERMAN. Native of Toorak, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Reported missing, 26 April 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held on Lemnos Island, 16-19 October 1915, declared fate to be 'killed in action, 26 April 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2220508J, 1243 Pte W.J. HOWDEN, 5th Bn (patient, No 1 Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt), 23 February 1916: 'Witness says that on the day of the landing they saw a very big man of their Battalion lying dead in front of their line. He knew [which] Battalion because he was wearing the colours of the 5th on his shoulder. This man was so big that he must have been either Quarterman or "Tiny" Williams, who were the two biggest men in the Battalion, but he could not be sure which it was, because they had to retire from that ground later the same day. He saw one of our men turn him over but they had no time to stop. It was only a passing glance.'

Second statement, 1095 Pte S. WARD, 5th Bn (patient, Tooting Military Hospital, London, England), 23 February 1916: 'Informant states that about August 1915 there was a general report in the Coy., that Quarterman was a prisoner of war at Constantinople.'

Third statement, Lt TAYLOR, 27th Bn, 15 March 1916: 'Witness knew Quarterman in A Coy. and says he saw him fall during the fighting on the day of the landing. He cannot say to what extent he was injured then. His body was never recovered and witness thinks there is no doubt he was killed.'

Fourth statement, 1326 Pte W. CARTWRIGHT, A Company, 5th Bn, 27 March 1916: 'Informant states that casualty had his leg shot off on the 25th April, and died where he fell. Informant was told so by other men of the same platoon.'

Fifth statement, 1053 Sergeant W. SIDDERLEY, 5th Bn, 12 April 1916: 'Informant states that he is positive from information received (and informant states that he went to a lot of trouble to get it) that this casualty went out with Captain Clement of the 5th Btn. together with Burns and two others for the 2nd ridge on the 25th April, who were all destroyed by shell fire.'

Sixth statement, 1720 Corporal H.V. BENCH, B Company, 5th Bn, 27 April 1916: 'Informant states that casualty was to use his own words "A great big bloke." Informant heard from a man, name unknown, that casualty whom the boys used to call "Pug" never landed on the peninsula. He was drowned in the boat going ashore from the transport "Galeka". Informant did not see casualty drowned.'

Seventh statement, 119 Pte T.S. NIMMO, A Company, 5th Bn, 12 June 1916: 'Informant states casualty was killed at Gaba Tepe on the 25th April, on the top of the hill with Captain Clement. Casualty was a big man, 6 ft.'

Eighth statement, 259 Sergeant C.C. CROME, 5th Bn, 19 June 1916: 'Informant states that he knew this man, and that he was killed on the 2nd day under Captain Clements on the second ridge.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, QUARTERMAN Guy William
Red Cross File No 2220508J

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