James J. Quinn
Encyclopedia
James J. Quinn was a Major General
in the Irish Army
, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal as Force Commander for UNFICYP forces.
Born in Tipperary
in 1918, he joined the Irish Army as an officer cadet in 1938, and was commissioned in 1939. He served in the infantry throughout The Emergency. In 1950 he attended the British Army
's Staff College in Camberley.
He served subsequently as instructor in Irish Military College, being promoted Colonel in 1959. In that year he was appointed CO of the Irish Army's Sixth Brigade. He served with the United Nations
in the Congo (ONUC) from 1961 to 1962. He saw further service with the United Nations in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1964.
Quinn was appointed GOC Curragh Command
1968 to 1972, and as GOC Eastern Command 1972 to 1976. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff in 1976. Later that year he was promoted to Major General and appointed commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in which capacity he served until 1981. He was the first Irish Army general to command British troops, since Britain provided a battalion as its contribution to UNFICYP. Earlier, an Irish army battalion had served in UNFICYP when the force commander (Brigadier A.J. Wilson) was a British general. Returning to Ireland that year, he was awarded the Irish Distinguished Service Medal
. He retired from the Irish Army in 1982, and died later that year.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal as Force Commander for UNFICYP forces.
Born in Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
in 1918, he joined the Irish Army as an officer cadet in 1938, and was commissioned in 1939. He served in the infantry throughout The Emergency. In 1950 he attended the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Staff College in Camberley.
He served subsequently as instructor in Irish Military College, being promoted Colonel in 1959. In that year he was appointed CO of the Irish Army's Sixth Brigade. He served with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in the Congo (ONUC) from 1961 to 1962. He saw further service with the United Nations in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1964.
Quinn was appointed GOC Curragh Command
Curragh Camp
The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :...
1968 to 1972, and as GOC Eastern Command 1972 to 1976. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff in 1976. Later that year he was promoted to Major General and appointed commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in which capacity he served until 1981. He was the first Irish Army general to command British troops, since Britain provided a battalion as its contribution to UNFICYP. Earlier, an Irish army battalion had served in UNFICYP when the force commander (Brigadier A.J. Wilson) was a British general. Returning to Ireland that year, he was awarded the Irish Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Republic of Ireland)
The Distinguished Service Medal is issued by the Irish Government.It is issued in three grades:The Distinguished Service Medal is issued by the Irish Government.It is issued in three grades:...
. He retired from the Irish Army in 1982, and died later that year.
Sources
- An Cosantoir, the Irish Defence Journal
- A History of the Irish Army, John Duggan (1991)
- Irish Defence Forces Handbook (1988)