William Quinlan

Memorial to those who died as a result of the Eureka Stockade located in the Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens. Photography: Clare Gervasoni 2013.

Background

William Quinlan was from Goulburn, New South Wales. He was killed during the Eureka Stockade.

Notes

C. McAlister recalled in 1927:

I went to Ballarat within three weeks of the event, and was told that there were 700 men or more behind the stockade the day before the fight, but that scarcely one third of that number stood to their guns, and, be it said, pikes, under Peter Lalor and his lieutenants. In fairness to the diggers it must be remembered that they were surprised in a military sense by the attack — an attack made in the early hours of that midsummer Sunday morning of 1854. It is said the usual traiter within the ranks gave the diggers away, but, nevertheless, considering they were ill-armed, undisciplined, and taken on the hop, they put up a stiff battle against the forces of the Queen, and proved at the least that they were the breed of men who have the courage of their convictions to the death. The attacking party was chiefly composed of men of the 40th Regiment, and of those, I believe, four privates and Captain Wise were killed and several wounded. On the side of the diggers some 30 or 40 were killed. I heard that the diggers' flag, the southern cross, fell into the hands of one of the soldiers, and I, like, no doubt, many other men of that period, would very much desire to know what is its present destination. I very much regretted that my old mate, Bill Quinlin, was one of the hapless victims of the fray. He left our party some months be fore and made up with some of the more willing of the stockaders, Spicer and Torpy (afterwards M.L.A. for Orange), both of whom were later concerned in the Lambing Flat riots, were also, I think, amongst the men who on Ballarat made such a resolute fight for what they considered were their equitable rights and privileges. But though the so-called rebellion was easily sup pressed its direct results proved that the heroes of the Eureka stockade did not die in vain for the cause of equity between the Government and the diggers.

See also

James Torpy

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

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