GUYMER, Arthur Howes
| Service Numbers: | Officer, S47031 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kilkenny, South Australia, 6 March 1893 |
| Home Town: | Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College, University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Doctor and Surgeon |
| Died: | Somerton Park, South Australia, 15 December 1962, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia RSL Walls |
| Memorials: | Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Glenelg St Michael's War Chapel WW2 Honour Roll, Woodville Kilkenny Church of St. Edward Honour Roll, Woodville Saint Margaret's Anglican Church Lych Gate |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Captain, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Captain, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Jan 1942: | Involvement Major, S47031 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Glenelg, SA | |
| 22 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, S47031 | |
| 10 Nov 1943: | Discharged |
Biography
Published Biographies
Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014
Australian Doctors on the Western Front by Robert Likeman CSM
Additional Biography
Schooling
Arthur attended Prince Alfred College and won the Malpas Scholarship in 1910. He commenced studying Medicine at Adelaide University in 1911.
Sporting Career
It is difficult to separate the sporting careers of Arthur and his older brother Ernest as they were both involved in sport at PAC and Adelaide University and newspaper reports of the time frequently only recorded the player’s surname.
Rowing
In 1911, Arthur and Ern rowed in the ‘Forresters Fours’ for the newly formed Adelaide University Boat Club. Arthur was also involved in the Boat Club in 1912.
Tennis
In 1913, Arthur and Ern played tennis for the Kilkenny Congregational Church team.
Football
One of the brothers played in an Intercollegiate football game for PAC against Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1909.
From 1912 to 1914 the name Guymer appeared frequently in the Adelaide University Football Club team sheets for both the A grade and B grade (1913-1914). During that period both Arthur and Ern were studying Medicine.
1912
Ern was named for the Blacks for the match v Glenferrie on 17th August 1912.
1913
Arthur was a member of the 1913 Intervarsity team.
1914
In 1914 when the Adelaide Student’s Association was formed, Ern was the first Secretary Treasurer and Arthur represented the University on the Adelaide Student’s Association General Committee.
On Saturday 5th September 1914, Arthur was named for the A’s in a match v Glenferrie. On Saturday 12th September 1914 Adelaide University defeated Adelaide High School winning the first Premiership for the Adelaide Student’s Association. A picture appeared in The Mail on 17th September 1914 of the Adelaide University B team, while it is not explicitly stated, the logical conclusion is that it is as picture of the Premiership team. Both the Guymer brothers are in the photo (it is the only evidence to hand to show the brothers playing in the same team on the same day). (see photo in document). One of the Guymer brothers was named in the Amateur League Premiership game played on the 19th September 1914 (University losing to Semaphore Central).
Author EE (Beth) Filmer
For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.
Submitted 11 June 2025 by Eleanor Filmer
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
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.
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