Thomas Quarrier
Quartermaster
"One memorable incident on the Albert River, in the splendid isolation of far northern Queensland, involved former constable Thomas Quarrier. It took place on 8 November 1861. He was a self proclaimed teetotaller and an officer found him lying flat on his back on the deck of the Firefly. Quarrier, acting second-in-command, seemed confused and incorrent, and muttered something about 'things getting worse and worse'. He was told to clean the deck and get some supper. Instead he turned into his hammock. When this was discovered, he was called to the Officers' cabin by Lieutenant Gascoyne:
Quarrier came rolling at the door with his cap on evidently drunk. Mr [acting Lieutenant] Handfield put some question to him which Quarrier did not answer. I then said to Mr Handfield, that man is drunk, upon which Quarrier stared at me and said nothing looking stupified. Mr Handfield then ordered him from the cabin.
Quarrier was court-martialled for this offence when he returned on board the Victoria on 22 November. He was disrated to Leading Seaman."
From Crew List of HMCS Victoria as at January 1857.
Article in Journal of Police History, vol. 3 no. 1, March - May 1995 written by Ian MacFarlane.
Listed in the Victorian Defence Forces List, Naval Branch, 10 May 1872 as having resigned or been discharged. | 