17 Facts About Edward Quinan

Edward Quinan continued serving in the Middle East until 1943, when he returned to India to command the North West Army, but retired later the same year due to a downgrading of his fitness status.

Edward Quinan was of Anglo-Irish descent and was born in Calcutta on 9 January 1885; his father died when he was ten years old.

Edward Quinan served at the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Loos and the attempt to relieve Kut al Amara; he was wounded at Beit Aisa.

Edward Quinan returned to India and the Frontier and was a staff officer in the 1919 Afghan War and the subsequent campaign in Waziristan.

Edward Quinan wrote the official history of the Waziristan campaign which is considered by military experts to be the model of a campaign history.

Edward Quinan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his staff work during this campaign.

Edward Quinan then returned to Jhansi as a brigadier to command the 9th Brigade.

Edward Quinan was posted to Dacca to assist in anti-terrorist operations against those fighting for Indian independence.

Edward Quinan was promoted to major-general at the end of 1937 but in March 1938 he was forced to take sick leave due to high blood pressure and convalesced in Osborne House before being declared fit again for active service in July 1938 to take up command of the Western Independent District.

Edward Quinan spent the early years of the Second World War on the North West Frontier but in March 1941, he was promoted to lieutenant-general, consulted General Sir Archibald Wavell in Cairo and was sent to command the Indian Army Corps in the landing at Basra, Iraq, and was appointed GOC British Troops in Iraq.

Edward Quinan became GOC 10th Army in Persia and Iraq Command.

Edward Quinan's command, designated Tenth Army in February 1942 was built up as German forces advancing into the Soviet Union began to pose a threat.

Edward Quinan was knighted in the birthday honours of 1942 and made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire and in August 1942, he was promoted to be a full general.

The German threat receded following their defeat at Stalingrad and Edward Quinan's command began to shrink.

However, it was not until April 1943 that Edward Quinan left the Middle East and was appointed GOC-in-C North Western Army, India.

Edward Quinan retired to Barrington, Somerset, and died on 13 November 1960.

Edward Quinan's renowned attention to detail was noted in his Times obituary which recorded that he "astonished, and sometimes appalled his subordinates by his meticulous attention to the duties of the smallest units under his command".