Graham Henry Quinn (8 July 1912 – 13 November 1987) was a New Zealand

track and field athlete Track and field is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of ...

who won a bronze medal at the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 ye ...

Early life and family

Born in Gisborne on 8 July 1912, Quinn was the son of John Richard Quinn and Eleanor Clare Quinn (née Buchanan).

Athletics

Quinn won three New Zealand national athletics titles: the 100 yards sprint in 1938; and the 220 yards in 1936 and 1938. At the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, Quinn competed in the 100 yards sprint, in which he finished fifth in his heat and did not progress further. In the men's 220 yards sprint, he placed second in his heat and fifth in his semi-final, and did not progress to the final. He was a member of the New Zealand men's 4 x 440 yards relay team—with Arnold Anderson, Alan Sayers, and

Harold Tyrie Harold Joffre Tyrie (3 August 1915 – 22 February 2007) was a New Zealand Track and field, track and field athlete who won a bronze medal at the New Zealand at the 1938 British Empire Games, 1938 British Empire Games. He also played represe ...

—that won the bronze medal.

Later life and death

A meat inspector, Quinn served as a gunner with the

New Zealand Artillery The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery is the artillery regiment of the New Zealand Army. It is effectively a military administrative corps, and can comprise multiple component regiments. This nomenclature stems from its heritage as an off ...

in the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, and took part in a military sports meeting in New Caledonia in May 1943. He died on 13 November 1987, and was buried at

Māngere Māngere () or Mangere is one of the largest suburbs in Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on mainly flat land on the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of Manukau City Centre and 15 kilometres south of ...

Lawn Cemetery.

References

1912 births 1987 deaths Sportspeople from Gisborne, New Zealand New Zealand male sprinters Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics New Zealand military personnel of World War II Burials at Māngere Lawn Cemetery Medallists at the 1938 British Empire Games New Zealand Athletics Championships winners {{NewZealand-athletics-bio-stub