Francis Quinlan

Francis Quinlan was a Canadian student at Glebe Collegiate Institute who served in World War 2. Francis was born on October 6th, 1918 in Ottawa, Ontario. He was 6 1/2 feet tall, had dark brown hair and brown eyes. His father, Thomas, was Irish and his mother, Mary, was scottish. He worked as a clerk prior to joining the military and was single.

Job (supply assistant) official number 40653 in the royal canadian navy. He did not enter upon a trade apprenticeship. Campaign medals earned: 1939-45 star atlantic star and c.v.s.m. & clasp war medal. List of ships and establishments worked at: Worked in Naden starting January 15 1940. Then moved to Stadacona starting October 14 1940. Then he moved to Orillia on December 18 1940. Then he moved back to Stadacona starting February 6 1941. Finally, he was moved to Napese on april 17, 1941. His total number of days overseas was 365.

Quinlan sadly passed away during the war in the late evening of December 12th, 1942 in St. John’s Newfoundland. A fire completely destroying the Knights of Columbus Hostel was the cause of his death. He was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery on the 19th of December in plot 2, section 0. As a result of his death, the Naval Board sent his mother a Memorial Cross as well as $401.22 towards both parents as a momento for her personal loss and sacrifice.

Francis Quinlan

Francis Quinlan est né le 6 Octobre 1918 à Ottawa. Il a vécu toute sa vie au 168 Fifth Ave. Il était célibataire, blanc avec les cheuveux bruns et il mesurait 6 pieds. Son poids était de 172 livres. Avant de rejoindre l’armée, il était étudiant dans sa quatrième année d'école au Glebe Collegiate institute et n’avait pas de travail. Ses parents sont Mary et Thomas Quinlan.

Il s’est enrôlé au Ord. Sea, le 4 Février 1938. Il a participé à la guerre pour 1 062 jours. Il a combattu pour l’armée canadienne surtout en Europe.

Francis Quinlan est mort le 12 décembre 1942. Il avait 24 ans quand il est décédé. Il est mort dans un feu qui a détruit l'auberge des Chevaliers de Colomb située à St John's, à Terre-Neuve, Il s'agirait d'un accident. Les parents de Francis Quinlan ont reçu $15.00 de pension après son décès. Il n’était pas marié et n'avait pas de testament, alors l’argent est allé directement à ses parents. Francis Quinlan a reçu 2 médailles. La première médaille qu'il a eu est le 1939..4.5 Étoile Étoile de l'Atlantique. La deuxième médaille qu'il a eu est la médaille de guerre C.V.S., M et barrette. Au cimetière catholique de St John’s, tu peux trouver sa pierre tombale au Sec. Q. Tombe 11.

Photo de la plaque du Glebe Collegiate qui commémore les étudiants de l'école qui sont morts à la guerre.

Photo de la croix de Francis Quinlan au cimetière catholique St John's, à Terre-Neuve, Canada.

Works Cited

Francis Quinlan- The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2954094?Francis%20Quinlan Accessed 1 November 2023.

“Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947.” Collection Search, http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=kia&id=43699&lang=eng . Accessed 26 October 2023.

The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.

Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

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