The story of Anthony Quigley

The story of Anthony Vincent Quigley by Diana Hunt, 2018 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize awardee














 Anthony Quigley during training in 1967

Anthony Vincent Quigley was born on the 24th November 1947 in Adelaide. He was one of a pair of twins to Vincent and Mary Quigley, but his twin died one day after they were born. The Quigleys were a devout Roman Catholic family. His father owned his own catering business, though Anthony, known to his friends as Tony, did not follow the family business. He went to school at Salesian College in Brooklyn Park. However he did not finish his education and went into the building business as a labourer and driver.

                     

 

Anthony in Adelaide before being called up

He was called up for  National Service in 1967, aged 20. On enlistment, he was around 6 foot tall, muscly and had thick, wiry hair. He was sent to Puckapunyal in April 1967 for basic training. He was then sent to Singleton for infantry training in June 1967. He finished training in August 1967. He immediately joined 5 Platoon, B (Bravo) Company, 3RAR at Woodside Barracks in South Australia. He did not leave for Vietnam until 20th December 1967, so he went and saw his girl friend at the time before he left for Vietnam. Tragically, this was the last time they would see each other.

He was well respected by his comrades, rising to the rank of Corporal and became a  section commander. He was a part of the Tet Offensive in February 1968, the unexpected battle for Baria on 1st and 2nd February 1968  and the costly and protracted battle for Fire Support Bases Balmoral and Coral in May and June 1968. This battle went on  for 28 days and was one of the longest battles of the Vietnam War. He was admitted to the 1st Australian Field Hospital in Vung Tau in September 1968 for malaria, where many of his mates kept his spirits up, like he did for them on the battlefield. He returned to his battalion at the Task Force base at Nui Dat around the end of September 1968.

The night before he was to return to Australia, Tony was commanding a patrol  protecting the tactical area of responsibility (TAOR), as a favour for one of his mates so that his mate could see a friend off for rest leave in Vung Tau. Tony went to check the area  when a VietCong sniper heard him moving and shot at him. That shot was fatal. He died immediately on the night on 5th November 1968, aged just 21. One of his mates, when he returned home told Tony’s family that Tony was a great guy with good humour.

Many of the men and women who left for Vietnam returned mentally and physically scarred and the country they called home shunned their service. Many veterans who returned home were not allowed to join RSLs or collect government pensions because Vietnam was a ‘police action’ and was not yet recognised as a war. Many were called ‘baby killers’ or ‘murderers’ due to the television coverage of the aftermath of herbicides, such as Napalm and Agent Orange. The Vietnam conflict was not liked by the Australian public, so many veterans were verbally and physically abused. This infuriated many of Tony’s mates, that they were not allowed to say they were veterans. Many kept their service secret from family and friends for many years, some kept it secret for decades. When servicemen and servicewomen returned to Australia, many were told by the Army to never wear their uniforms anywhere outside, in case they were attacked or abused for their service, this included on military bases and walking to and from work - they had to wear ‘civvies’ or civilian clothing.

Although the youth of today may never know about the Vietnam War, many will know someone who was a part of it, so as the youth of today and the educators and historians of tomorrow, we must remember their sacrifice and duty to country.  Tony has been a fascinating character to research. Although he did not form a family of his own, his siblings and parents would always know Tony as a hilarious guy who was very kind and I have spiritually adopted him into my own family.  I now would like to play you a song that is possibly very familiar to some of you, but there are a few common experiences that many of our veterans would have had during their tour of duty in Vietnam, regardless if they were conscripts or volunteers. (Diana then played "I was only 19").