The background on Private Quintall prepared by New Zealand Defence Force Historian John Crawford states Private Lester Edward Quintall sailed for Egypt in February 1915. Between June and August 1915 while serving at Gallipoli with the Auckland Infantry Battalion he was twice admitted to hospital with influenza, and during the same period he was once admitted to hospital on Mudros suffering from dysentery. Quintall was evacuated from Gallipoli suffering from influenza in August 1915 and was hospitalised in Egypt. He returned to New Zealand in October 1915.
After further treatment and periods of sick leave Quintall was discharged from the NZEF as no longer physically fit for war service on 10 May 1916.
His personal file notes that he was suffering from asthma as result of his war service, but unfortunately Quintall's medical papers and correspondence were merged with his pension file in 1926 and this was subsequently lost.
On May 2, 1919 Lester Quintall died of tuberculosis on Norfolk Island. His death was noted on his NZEF personal file. On 11 December 1930, Quintall's next of kin were sent the memorial plaque and scroll given by the New Zealand government to the next of kin of all NZEF personnel whose death was attributable to their war service.
The New Zealand Defence Force conclusion is that the few surviving references to Lester Quintall's medical conditions make it clear that he developed serious problems with his lungs while serving in the NZEF.
His next of kin would not have been issued with the memorial plaque and scroll unless the New Zealand authorities were satisfied that Quintall's death was attributable to his war service. This decision may well have been based on evidence that is no longer in existence because of the purging of NZEF personal files.
The NZDF concludes that Private Lester Edward Quintall should, therefore, be added to the appropriate First World War rolls of honour. The Secretary for War Pensions has also reviewed this case and concluded that Quintall’s death was attributable to his war service and that he should be added to the appropriate rolls of honour.
