George Thomas McQuay

Born 25 Aug 1886 - Died 28 Dec 1951

Service number: WWI 12/2582 AWMM
Also known as: Thomas George McQuay AWMM
George Brown AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW1 Private AWMM Auckland Infantry Regiment AWMM
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

BEFORE THE CALL OF WAR. George Thomas McQuay, with fine, determined face and almost sartorial fastidiousness, just before he enlisted from Auckland with the Fifth Contingent. (See story on front page.) (NZ Truth, 05 April 1928) No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

George Thomas McQuay (also recorded as Thomas George McQuay) was born in Auckland on 25 August 1886, the son of Robert and Emma Louisa McQuay, later of Orlando Street, Stratford, Taranaki. His brother, William Robert McQuay (24/1442), also served during World War I.

A carpenter by occupation, McQuay enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Stratford in February 1915 and served as a private with the Auckland Infantry Regiment at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.

Concerns about his mental health arose during his military service. He subsequently disappeared from his unit in France in July 1916 and was recorded as absent without leave, later being treated as a deserter.

McQuay was eventually found wandering in London, reportedly wearing civilian clothing and an Australian soldier's hat. Unable to recall his identity, he was believed to be an Australian soldier and was transferred to Callan Park psychiatric hospital in Sydney. There he remained unidentified for approximately eleven years, at one point giving his name as George Brown.

In March 1928, publicity about an unidentified former soldier at Callan Park prompted enquiries from families in Australia and New Zealand. Information forwarded to the New Zealand Defence Department suggested that the patient might be George Thomas McQuay. On 28 March 1928, his mother, Emma McQuay, was shown a photograph of the patient and immediately recognised him as her son, whom she had not seen since 1915.

Emma travelled to Sydney, where they were reunited in May 1928. McQuay subsequently returned to New Zealand and spent time at Porirua psychiatric hospital. His mother arranged for him to return periodically to the family home in Stratford, paying for the supervision required during these visits.

In 1931, McQuay was discharged from hospital as 'unrecovered' and returned to live in Stratford, where he remained until his death in 1951.

His experiences were documented by David Hastings in Odyssey of the Unknown Anzac (2018), which examines his military service, disappearance, identification and eventual return to his family. AWMM

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George Thomas McQuay