Miniature medals : Sergeant V D McQuillan, DCM, 6 Division Cavalry Regiment

Set of six miniature medals comprising the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939-1945, Australia Service Medal. These were a private purchase by the donor and represent the full sized medals with Sergeant McQuillan's family would have been issued after his death in 1941.

Associated with QX4682 Sergeant Vincent Daniel McQuillan, 6 Division, Australian Cavalry Regiment, AIF. Seargeant McQuillan was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions in Bardia, Libya on 5 January 1941. Later, on 27 January, McQuillan was leading his troop on patrol in the Wadi Derna area when it was ambushed by concealed Italian anti tank weapons and machine guns from very close range. McQuillan signalled his troop to withdraw and in the process his carrier struck a mine, mortally wounding his driver and breaking McQuillan's arm. The remaining vehicles escaped and gained cover. A rescue effort was mounted but failed. McQuillan and three others were later captured by the Italians. Sergeant McQuillan died of wounds two days after his capture, on 29 January 1941. He is buried at the Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya.