MCGUINESS, Reuben James
| Service Numbers: | 329, 7538 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Daylesford, Victoria, Australia., 1889 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 16 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Ebblinghem Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 329, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 329, 6th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW Right Shoulder. | |
| 8 Apr 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 329, 6th Infantry Battalion, WIA at Anzac. RTA. Discharged. | |
| 2 Mar 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 7538, passed for re-enlistment. | |
| 25 Jul 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7538, 6th Infantry Battalion, 25 RFTS. 6th BATT. | |
| 4 Aug 1917: | Involvement Private, 7538, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Aug 1917: | Embarked Private, 7538, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 5 Feb 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7538, 6th Infantry Battalion, Embarked from England to France. Re-joined his unit. | |
| 16 May 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 7538, 6th Infantry Battalion, Died of Wounds. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Reuben James McGuiness was a miner from Melbourne. His is the son of Edward and Margaret McGiness (nee Malcomb). He was born near the Victorian Goldfields in 1889. Reuben had served in Bendigo's Infantry Regiment. Hence, was amonst the first to enlist when the A.I.F was formed in August 1914. Reuben had his baptism of fire at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Unfortunately, he suffered a gun shot wound after thirteen days of fighting at Anzac. It is not known if he was brought back down to the beach by the "man with the donkey". However, Reuben was evacuated to a Hospital ship. Then he was repatriated to Melbourne. Following a long period of recuperation, he was certified medically unifit. Reuben discharged on 7 April 1916. His war should have been over.
He received a war pension because he was unable to work. Reuben married his long term girlfriend. Muriel May Griffin. The happy couple had a daughter in 1916.
However the boredom of not being able to work coupled with a desire to help his 6 Inf. Bn. A.I.F. comrades, motivated him to attempt to re-enlist. The A.I.F. finally relented after the first conscription referendum failed. His A.I.F. medical status was changed from "unfit to fit" on 2 March 1917. He then reported for his second round of recruit training at Broadmeadows on 3 July 1917. Reuben was then re-musterd as a member of the 6 Inf. Bn's. Twenty-Fifth Re-Enforcements. He embarked from Melbourne for the second time, on the third anniversary of the Declaration of War. 4 August 1917. He had further training in England before embarking to France on 5 Feb 1918. Reuben rejoined his old unit.
It is unknown as to how many of Reuben's original 6 Bn. comrades from Gallipoli were still alive when he again took his place in the fireing line. Reuben had gone to a lot of trouble to re-join his mates. He could have sat out the epic battles of the Western Front. For he had done his bit a Gallipoli. Reuben was a married man with a family on a war pension. However, his zeal to serve his King and Country by fighting again with his old 6 Bn. comrades cost him his life. Reuben was mortally wounded in France on 16 May 1918. His 6 Bn. comrades sent him back to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station. Tragically PTE Reuben McGuiness 6 Inf. Bn. A.I.F. was pronounced dead on arrival. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds from machine guns. This caused his death.
His daughter Maisey had lost her dad. His wife Muriel was now a war widow with a child to raise. Reuben was entlited to three Great War medals which Muriel received. The story of this Anzac is unique. For he was a discharged wounded warrior from Gallipoli who re-enlisted to help his mates in France. Lest We Forget.
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