Studio portrait of QX4682 Sergeant (Sgt) Vincent Daniel (Mac) McQuillan Distinguished Conduct ...

Studio portrait of QX4682 Sergeant (Sgt) Vincent Daniel (Mac) McQuillan Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), A Squadron, 6th Division, Cavalry Regiment, of Brisbane, Qld. A public servant with the Land and Income Tax Department prior to enlisting on 3 November 1939. On 27 January 1941, he died of wounds he received in circumstances which won him the DCM, which he was awarded on 6 May 1941. He is buried at Benghasi Military Cemetery, Middle East. Major Onslow, his Commanding Officer, wrote: '...Throughout the battle for Bardia and Tobruk, Mac, as he was known to us all in the Sqn, was at all times in the forefront of the battle, and led his troop with the greatest skill, determination, resolution and courage. He was without doubt an outstanding leader of men, and it has given us all the greatest pleasure to hear in this week's orders, that His Majesty has seen fit to bestow upon Mac the D.C.M. as an award for his brilliant action in capturing an Italian strongpoint single handed, taking at the same time no less than 67 prisoners on the third day of the battle for Bardia. It was a bad day for the sqn. when Mac together with nine of his comrades became involved in an ambush, on the south side of the Wadi Derna and only two of them managed to escape. Mac was taken by the Italians to Bardia Hospital where he died on 29th Jan. as the result of his wounds, and we lost a comrade and leader whom it will be hard to replace...' On Thursday 24 April 1941 the Premier of Queensland, William Forgan Smith gave an address at the unveiling of the memorial portrait of Sgt McQuillan at the Taxation Building.