MCGUINNESS, Charles
| Service Numbers: | 3047, S1530 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 June 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25/33 Garrison Battalion (SA) |
| Born: | Semaphore, South Australia, 18 September 1886 |
| Home Town: | Glanville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 25 January 1969, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Gardens, Path 11, Plot 708A. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3047, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3047, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3047, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 22 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 3047, 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 15 May 1941: | Involvement Private, S1530 | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 May 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, S1530, 25/33 Garrison Battalion (SA) | |
| 15 May 1941: | Enlisted Keswick, SA | |
| 25 Feb 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, S1530, 25/33 Garrison Battalion (SA) | |
| 25 Feb 1944: | Discharged |
Help us honour Charles McGuinness's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
MCGUINNESS Charles_3047 & S1530
Charles was the son of Robert MCGUINNESS & Caroline MUNN and was born on the 18th of September 1885 in Mary Street, Glanville, SA.
His parents were married on the 10th of August 1881 in Adelaide.
His father was the son of Charles MCGUINNESS and was born in 1856 in Glasgow, Scotland.
His mother was the daughter of George Stephen MUNN & Elizabeth Anne KING and was born on the 17th of April 1864 in Hartley, Kent, England. They had arrived in Pt Adelaide on the 8th of February 1874 on board the “Forfarshire”.
Charles was the 3rd child born into the family of 12 children.
Charles was previously married to Ann Theresa Margaret HENEY on the 21st of May 1913 at the Presbytery in Pt Adelaide. Ann was the daughter of Timothy HENEY & Emma RYAN and was born on the 4th of August 1890 in Pt Adelaide.
They welcomed their first child into the family; Winifred Mary Kathleen MCGUINESS on the 10th of April 1914 in Pt Adelaide.
Sadly, little Winifred died, just 7 days later on the 17th of April 1914. They buried Winifred in the Cheltenham Cemetery. The gravesite has since been redeveloped.
Tragically Ann died, on the 25th of November 1914 in Pt Adelaide. Charles buried her in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section F, Drive A, Path 7(29), Site 232N. Her burial is registered under “MCGINNESS”.
Charles enlisted into the 16th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement C Company on the 29th of June 1915 and was allotted the service number 3047. His name was spelt “MCGINNESS” and he named his mother, Caroline KNAPP of Rosewater, as next of kin.
Charles was a laborer.
Charles was a Driver with his unit.
They embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 14th of September 1915. On the 13th of November they landed in Gallipoli, but were only there for 6 weeks and were evacuated to Alexandria on the 30th of December 1915.
On the 1st of June 1916 the Battalion sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918, the battalion took part in bloody trench warfare. Its first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley.
The battalion spent much of 1917 in Belgium advancing to the Hindenburg Line. The battalion, along with most of the 4th Brigade, suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt in April, when the brigade attacked strong German positions without the promised tank support.
Charles was hospitalized on the 18th of October 1917 suffering from Traumatic Orchitis. He was transferred to the 1st London General Hospital in Camberwell where he remained for 8 weeks.
He was transferred to the Machine Gun Training Brigade at Longbridge, Deverill on the 20th of December and then transferred to Grantham 3 weeks later.
He was trained at Grantham for 3 months before proceeding to France again and transferred to the newly formed 4th Machine Gun Battalion on the 18th of April 1918. Charles stayed with this unit until he returned to Australia on the 5th of September 1919 on board the Plassy.
Charles was discharged on the 22nd of December 1919.
Charles moved to Loxton and was employed by Mr Albert Edward Seary on his farm with 2 other returned soldiers, James Page and James Poulton.
On the evening of Saturday the 22nd of March 1924, at Mr. A. Seary's farm, about three miles up river from Loxton, where they had a camp a shooting affray occurred. The 3 returned soldiers had been to Loxton for the afternoon, and returned to their camp in a sulky about sundown. After their evening meal an altercation arose between them. As a result, it was further alleged that James Page was shot in the groin with a double barrelled shot gun, evidently discharged at close range.
Mr. Seary, was summoned by one of the party and he immediately conveyed the wounded man to the Loxton Hospital.
Charles was arrested on a charge of having shot James Page with intent to murder him.
At the trial, Charles said that they had all been drinking and Charles had gone to bed. He awoke with one of the men with his hands around his neck and the other with his hands in his pocket attempting to rob him. Charles picked up the gun to frighten them, they all went outside the tent and whilst attempting to load the gun, the cartridge exploded. He claimed it to be an accident.
Charles was committed for trial in the Adelaide Criminal Court.
In May he was found guilty of unlawful and malicious wounding. Mr Seary said he was willing to take Charles back with him to Loxton. The Judge released Charles on a £100 bond and advised him to leave the drink alone.
Charles married Sarah Ann ELY on the 10th of October 1925 in Pt Adelaide. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas ELY & Louise Anny Mary SCHULTZE and was born on the 10th of October 1887 in Pt Adelaide.
By 1940 they lived at 1 Stroud Street, Alberton.
Charles enlisted into the 2nd AIF on the 15th of May 1941 at Keswick and was allotted the service number S1530.
He was discharged on the 25th of February 1944, he was a private with the 25/33 Garrison Battalion.
Sarah died on the 22nd of September 1958 in Adelaide and is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section N, Drive C, Path 11, Plot 394N, with her brother; Thomas Otto ELY.
After Sarah died Charles moved to 31 Bucknall Road, Glanville
Charles died on the 25th of January 1969 in Daws Park and is buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery; Derrick Gardens, Path 11, Plot 708A.
They had no children.
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Enlisted and served in both wars as Charles McGINNESS
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