Martin (Micky) Quinn

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 03/03/2013 01:56:55

I've just received a plea for help from Christine in Australia.
Christine is looking for any information regarding her father who, it is believed he served with the Royal Signals and was known to have been a Commando.
Christine also recalls that he worked with, or around, dogs...

Christine has applied to the MoD for her father's Service Records but, despite her providing them with his service number, no records can be found!
The Royal Signals Museum also failed to provide any useful information about Micky Quinn.

Christine wrote:All that I do know is that he was sometimes called Micky and he said that he learnt early on not to make friends. He said that his best friend was run through on a church spire in a jump. He obviously took that very hard and didn't want to get close to anyone because losing them was too painful.

I have a testimonial is his release book that reads.

"I have known Mr Quinn since July 1942 when he applied for the commandos. He passed the special endurance and initiative course of training and served in the signal troop until it's disbandment in Sept 1945. He took part in operation in Italy and the Balkans and gained credit for his behaviour under very unpleasant conditions. I have always found Quinn to be loyal, most reliable and (something something) job efficiently and he has a pleasant disposition. He is a good driver and (something something) a vehicle well. He is quick to act in an emergency"
It states that he holds a heavy vehicle licence.

Cause of discharge: T. A. Regs 1936 para 204-6(9). His services being no longer required on re-enlistment into the Territorial Army.
Campaigns and services abroad: N.Africa 25.10.43 to 26.6 45
Medals: Efficiency Medal, 1939/45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45

It would be fantastic if we can help Christine find out more about her father as (as she says) "I feel very upset about this as he served our country (UK) for more than 10 years, was a commando and was wounded and yet he doesn't exist in Army history..."

Nick

Nic,

There is a DVR M QUINN mention in lost legion no 9,his unit is given as Bde HQ & Sigs.

Regards

Graham

Graham,

Many thanks for this - Christine was thrilled to see her father's name in our forum, so she will be over the moon with this info.
Already this tiny snippet of information is more than she was able to get from the MoD etc.
Christine felt as if her father had never existed and/or was never in the Army.

It would be great if we could unearth a little more info though... :D

We Will Remember Them

Nick

Nick,

I also drew a blank with the Royal Signals museum when researching my Dad's movements which I found a bit surprising so I sympathise with Christine entirely.

I am just wondering whether there might be a slight chance the service number given was incorrect for the MOD search? Is it worth checking the first numbers to see if they correspond with the parent regiment?

If Martin "Mickey" Quinn served in Italy and the Balkans it was probably with 2 SS Brigade Signals, I know they were present at Sicily, Salerno, Albania and Vis to name a few.

Regards Vic

Nic,

Quote"I have known Mr Quinn since July 1942 when he applied for the commandos"

I see from the Achnacarry course intake programme that the first Brigade Signals course started 11 Aug 1942 till 31 Aug 1942,

perhaps this was the start Martin Quinn's commando career.

All the best

Graham

Vlewis wrote:Nick,

I am just wondering whether there might be a slight chance the service number given was incorrect for the MOD search? Is it worth checking the first numbers to see if they correspond with the parent regiment?

If Martin "Mickey" Quinn served in Italy and the Balkans it was probably with 2 SS Brigade Signals, I know they were present at Sicily, Salerno, Albania and Vis to name a few.

Regards Vic

Christine used the service number from her father's Release Booklet (which was the same as that on his Marriage Certificate). Having drawn a blank from MoD, she phoned them up (presumably from Australia) and the guy she spoke to was very helpful and did a number of searches - to no avail.

Disappointingly, the guy from Royal Signals Museum suggested ancestry.co.uk; findmypast.co.uk & genesreunited.co.uk...

I too thought 2 SS Brigade because of the medals etc but in a later email Christine threw in a spanner by saying that he went to Norway & Holland so I'm just waiting for more info before I commit myself...

Thanks though for your input, I'm following your thread on 2 SS Brigade Signals closely as I'm sure it will be useful for Christine.

Nick

GrahamCooper wrote:Nic,

Quote"I have known Mr Quinn since July 1942 when he applied for the commandos"

I see from the Achnacarry course intake programme that the first Brigade Signals course started 11 Aug 1942 till 31 Aug 1942,

perhaps this was the start Martin Quinn's commando career.

All the best

Graham

Thanks for this input Graham - I will certainly pass it on to Christine.
Thanks guys, I'm sure Christine will join the forum soon then she will thank you herself.

Nick

Nick

Can you pm or email me the service number that Christine had

Pete

Pete,

PM'd you

Nick

Vlewis wrote:Nick,

I also drew a blank with the Royal Signals museum when researching my Dad's movements which I found a bit surprising so I sympathise with Christine entirely.

I am just wondering whether there might be a slight chance the service number given was incorrect for the MOD search? Is it worth checking the first numbers to see if they correspond with the parent regiment?

If Martin "Mickey" Quinn served in Italy and the Balkans it was probably with 2 SS Brigade Signals, I know they were present at Sicily, Salerno, Albania and Vis to name a few.

Regards Vic

I know this is an old thread, but mistakes in the numbers does happen. My Dad's (L/Sgt H J Bull) Commando Certificate has a digit missing.

Also on his pay book, there are 2 numbers written in the space for number neither of which are his number, fortunately we had other doucments with the correct number. I have aso been able to confirm with further photos in my possession (of the one Christine has) which my Dad mounted and entitled No3. Section Special Service Brigade Signal Troop, November 1942. The Mount Card is stamped A R Chaffin, Sherborne. Dad was subsequently No2. Brigade and remained in the Mediterannean until after the liberation of Athens and the Commandos were disbanded. There must at some point been some re-organising of the Brigades before sailing for Sicily, which is where my trail starts. Incidentally his paybook is dates from 1943 - 1945 and doesn't cover his service in the Signals from April 1939. I also have his Attestation paper.

Regards

Peta

Hi Peta,

Oops!
I should have returned to this thread again and added the developments...
Having seen Micky Quinn's pay book I knew that he's been trained as a Commando but the Mod and Signals denied he existed...

I managed to get a few snippets of 'trivial' information from Christine and made a little progress but then she told me that her father had confided in her brother-in-law but had sworn him to secrecy.
Brother-in-law (BiL) was a man of honour and would not tell Christine anything...
At this stage, I already had a couple of theories, so I gave Christine a couple of questions for her BiL. These were seemingly innocuous questions which BiL had no problem answering but it put me on the right track.
Micky Quinn had been in the TA during the War but, after demob, had rejoined the Army as a regular and was given a new number! Armed with this info it didn't take long to do a little digging and lo and behold the new number was found!
Christine, who lives in Australia, phoned up MoD, explained the situation and within a day or two she had been contacted, by MoD, who told her that Micky's records had been located and a copy was on its way - as the admin fee had already been paid on a previous search she was told there would be no further charge...
Micky's records arrived within a short period and confirmed all my theories and that he was indeed a commando.
This was a huge relief to Christine who told me that, because all the 'official bodies' had denied her father's existance she had thought that maybe her father had made all the stories up...
Another success story from the CVA!
Christine has, today, told me that she is very excited to hear that Peta's father served in the same section as her father and hopes to compare stories so that she can tie up a few loose ends - I'm sure this will be the same for Peta too.

Nick

Nick,

That's an amazing piece of detective work and a real result for Christine, so glad there's some closure on this one, well done !

Whilst we're on the subject, it looks like the photo has been identified as "3 section 2 Brigade Signals" As you're probably aware my Dad was in 2 Brigade Signals during this period so I wonder if you know how many sections made up 2 Brigade Signals? There's probably a few more photos out there somewhere that I'd like to see at some point.

Regards Vic

Hi Vic,
Christine told me that you had looked at her photo closely to see if your father was on it - Peta's photo is almost identical but of greater resolution - maybe...

Sorry, I don't know offhand how many sections made up 2 Brigade Signals, but will try and find out...
I'm guessing there were at least three sections! ;-)

Nick

Hi,
I've got a couple more troop photos but have no idea where they were taken or who is on them apart my my Dad and Johnnie. As soon as I can I'll scan them and upload them. (If I can as I'm finding difficulty) I'm not sure but one looks as though it may have Micky on it as he is standing the same way ie. hand on the chair in front of him. I think it may be possible to identify where they have been taken from the buildings in the back ground as I'm sure I've seen the same on other commando troop photos.

I also have a photo of a 'footer team' or at least Dad says on the back it had the makings of one until a week later they dug up the pitch for workshops!.

Peta

Vlewis wrote:Nick,

Whilst we're on the subject, it looks like the photo has been identified as "3 section 2 Brigade Signals" As you're probably aware my Dad was in 2 Brigade Signals during this period so I wonder if you know how many sections made up 2 Brigade Signals?

Regards Vic

Vic,
Attached are 2 War Establishments for Special Service Signal Troop - April 42 & Oct 43.

Looking at April 42 I see that there was:
1 Major - CO
4 Subalterns...
3 Sergeants...

There would have been a Subaltern in charge of each Section with a Sgt as his deputy, but as there was only three Sgts, I'd guess there was three sections and the 'extra' Subaltern was 2 I/C (Second in Command) of the Troop.

Nick