Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Arthur Howes Guymer was born at Kilkenny, SA on 6th March 1893, youngest son of George Huften and Mary Elizabeth Guymer nee Howes, of 8 Wilpena Terrace, Kilkenny, and younger brother of Ernest Albert. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at University of Adelaide graduating in 1915. He was a junior house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital for only a few weeks before enlistment. 

He enlisted in the AIF on 1st October 1915 just 2 weeks after his older brother. He was single, 23 years old, 5ft 11ins, and weighed, 9st12lbs and his father was named as his next of kin. He had one year of previous AAMC reserve service and applied for a commission as a captain in the AAMC. He was posted for general duty to 43 Bn of 11 Bde and attached on the 13th April 1916. This Bde was part of 3rd Div then assembling in Australia. They embarked from Adelaide on the Afric on the 9th June 1916 and did not go into action in France until late in 1916. He was transferred to Alexandria in October 1916 and then from 3 AGH to the RAMC base Depot at Mustapha and subsequently joined the BEF per Minnetonka finally posted to 43 Bn from 11 FdAmb. He suffered a severe gunshot wound to the left arm at Wimereux (Passchendaele), France on 18th October 1917 and transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital.  After recovery he was posted for duty to 11 FdAmb in May 1918 and then to several field ambulance attachments in France. Whilst with 11 FdAmb in 1918 he was recommended for a Military Cross, but no award was made. At the cessation of hostilities he was granted leave from 7th March 1919 to 7th September 1919 with pay for medical experience at the Royal Berkshire Hospital at Reading. His appointment was terminated in England on the 11th October 1919. He issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Guymer returned to Australia on the 30th March 1922 and by special dispensation of the Bishop he married Sylvia C Ninham, a singer and youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs F W Ninham of Croydon at St Margaret’s Church, Woodville. At this time he had been appointed as the Health Office for the District of Morgan in South Australia. However Guymer then lived and had a general practice in Mosely St, Glenelg. The family moved to Ballarat from 1925-1935 where he worked with his brother. On return to Glenelg the family were prominent in the social news of the day and his love of golf was shown by being Vice Captain of the Glenelg Golf Club. He often shared Anzac Day with members of the 43Bn. Arthur Howes Guymer died on the 15th December 1962 aged 69 years, at Somerton Park.  He was survived by his daughter Joan and son, Dr Max Guymer.