MCGUINNESS, Douglas Sheridan
| Service Number: | 14180 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Division Signals |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 1 August 1893 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 3 July 1940, aged 46 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia Section N, Drive C, Path 27, Site Number 160N |
| Memorials: | Hindmarsh Star of Freedom Tent No 4 IOOR WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 14180, 5th Divisional Signal Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 14180, 5th Divisional Signal Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Bulla embarkation_ship_number: A45 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Jun 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 14180, 5th Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Bulla, Adelaide | |
| 21 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 14180, 2nd Division Signals |
Help us honour Douglas Sheridan 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
Douglas was the son of Patrick Arthur MCGUINNESS & Anne Teresa SHERIDAN and was born on the 1st of August 1893 in the Women’s Hospital in Madeline Street, Carlton, VIC.
His parents were married on the 13th of April 1887 in St James Roman Catholic Church, Elsternweck, VIC.
His father was born on the 13th of February 1859 in Dundulk, Ireland.
His mother was the daughter of Joseph Francis SHERIDAN & Bridget MULLINS and was born on the 28th of March 1860 in St Kilda, VIC.
Douglas was the youngest child born into this family of 4 children.
His father immigrated to Melbourne in May 1885 on board the SS Austral and upon arrival had gained employment as a bookkeeper.
After Douglas’s parents married they had moved quite frequently and lived at Howard Street South Yarra, Green Street Richmond, William Street, Balaclava, Caulfield and Malvern.
They had then moved to Merton Place, South Melbourne and his mother supported the family with a shop.
Douglas gained employment as a labourer and in 1913 his mother retired and the family moved to 7 College Road, Kent Town.
On the 14th of January 1915 his brother; Arthur, enlisted into the 1st AIF and was allotted the service number 2135 and served with the 12th Battalion.
At the age of 23, Douglas enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 14180 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He was then transferred to A Company, 1st Depot Battalion and attended Signal School until the 15th of April.
The following day he was posted to the 5th Divisional Signal Company, 3rd Reinforcement as a Sapper.
Douglas embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A45 Bulla on the 23rd of June 1916, disembarked in Plymouth, England on the 24th of August and marched into No.3 Camp at Parkhouse.
He was then posted to the Signal Depot in Hitchin, which was responsible for dispatching reinforcement drafts and forming new units.
Three days later he was granted 3 days furlough and then on the 3rd of October he was transferred to the Signal Depot in Dunstable, which specialized in training motor cyclists.
Douglas spent Christmas 1916 here and after a further 3 months training he proceeded to France on the 2nd of April and marched into the Royal Engineers Signal Depot in Abbeville.
He was then posted to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade at Lagnicourt Valley and then 2 weeks later he was transferred to the 2nd Division Signal Company at Bancourt.
The signal company's primary function was to provide and maintain communications for the division, using methods like laying telephone wires, operating wireless sets, and employing visual signalling techniques.
Douglas served in France and was lucky enough only to suffer a broken nose during training.
He was granted 2 separate leaves to England before he finally marched out for return to England at the end of March 1919.
He embarked for England on the 4th of April and marched into No.2 Group in Sutton Veny the following day.
Douglas embarked from England on the 20th of May 1919 on board HMAT Nestor and disembarked in Adelaide on the 29th of June.
He moved back home to his mother and was discharged from the AIF on the 24th of August 1919.
Douglas was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital on the 3rd of July 1940.
Douglas died the very same day, on the 3rd of July 1940 in hospital and was buried 2 days later in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section N, Drive C, Path 27, Site Number 160N, with Rose.
McGUINNESS —THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. DOUGLAS SHERIDAN McGUINNESS (late A.I.F.) are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave his late residence, 97 Halifax Street, Adelaide, on FRIDAY, at 2.30pm for the Cheltenham Cemetery.
HAROLD J MOORE, Undertaker.
Military
At the age of 23, Douglas enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 14180 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of 7 College Road, Kent Town, as his next of kin.
On the 1st of February he was transferred to A Company, 1st Depot Battalion and attended Signal School until the 15th of April.
The following day he was posted to the 5th Divisional Signal Company, 3rd Reinforcement as a Sapper.
Douglas embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A45 Bulla on the 23rd of June 1916, disembarked in Plymouth, England on the 24th of August and marched into No.3 Camp at Parkhouse.
On the 20th of September Douglas was transferred to the Signal Depot in Hitchin, which was responsible for dispatching reinforcement drafts and forming new units.
Three days later he was granted 3 days furlo and then on the 3rd of October he was transferred to the Signal Depot in Dunstable, which specialized in training motor cyclists.
Whilst here, Douglas went AWOL on the 15th of November for 1 day and was awarded 7 days confined to barracks and forfeited 1 days pay.
Douglas spent Christmas 1916 here and after a further 3 months training he proceeded to France on the 2nd of April and marched into the Royal Engineers Signal Depot in Abbeville.
On the 12th of May he was posted to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade at Lagnicourt Valley and then 2 weeks later he was transferred to the 2nd Division Signal Company at Bancourt.
The signal company's primary function was to provide and maintain communications for the division, using methods like laying telephone wires, operating wireless sets, and employing visual signalling techniques.
On the 1st of June they commenced Company training which consisted of visual flag drill, Fullerphone use, message sending, line maintenance and lamp reading.
They spent all June and July here in training and then moved to moved to Renescure on the 28th of July.
Here they continued training and on the 4th of September Douglas suffered a fractured nasal bone and was admitted into the 41st Casualty Clearing Station at Godewaersvelde.
Three days later he was transferred by No.16 Ambulance Train and admitted into the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples.
After a few weeks he was discharged to No.6 Convalescent Depot on the 30th of September and then transferred to No.5 Convalescent Depot.
He spent another 6 weeks here before he was discharged to the Royal Engineers Signal Depot in Abbeville on the 12th of November.
Whilst here he suffered from scabies on the 26th of November and was admitted into the 2nd Stationary Hospital in Abbeville.
Nine days later he was discharged and rejoined his Company at Ravelsberg. A few days later he suffered from a Venereal Disease and was admitted into the 39th General Hospital in Le Havre.
Douglas remained in hospital receiving treatment until the 20th of March 1918 when he was discharged to the Royal Engineers Signal Depot in Abbeville.
Douglas rejoined his Company at Allonville on the 7th of April and the following day they moved to Beaucourt and were engaged in relaying cables and establishing amplifiers.
They were relieved on the 2nd of May and moved to Bertangles where they were refitted with clothing and commenced training.
Their next moved was to Allonville 3 days later and then to St Gratien on the 12th of May to establish advanced wireless stations.
On the 16th of June they moved to Coisy and were engaged in overhauling works before moving to Glisy on the 28th to dig and bury cables.
Whilst here Douglas was granted leave to England on the 16th of July and rejoined his Company on the 4th of August, who was still at Glisy.
They moved to Villers-Brettoneux on the 9th of August where they were digging trenches, laying and salvaging cables.
Two weeks later, they moved to Allonville and then to Cappy on the 28th of August, and then Doingt on the 28th of September.
On the 8th of October they moved to Belloy-sur-Somme and into training and they were still here on the 11th of November when the Armistice was signed.
Cartignies was their next destination on the 27th and then on the 18th of December they began a 4 day march to Charleroi.
Christmas 1918 was spent here and they worked on the Charleroi exchange.
Douglas was granted leave to England on the 12th of February 1919 and then rejoined his Company at Charleroi on the 8th of March.
On the 30th of March Douglas, as part of quota No.23, entrained for Le Havre for return to England.
He embarked for England on the 4th of April and marched into No.2 Group in Sutton Veny the following day.
Douglas embarked from England on the 20th of May 1919 on board HMAT Nestor and disembarked in Adelaide on the 29th of June.
Douglas was discharged from the AIF on the 24th of August 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.