Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William James Yule Guilfoyle was the only child of William Robert Guilfoyle, the well known horticulturalist and Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. His mother was Alice Darling. Young William was known as Willie to his school friends and had quite a reputation for mischief at his school.

Sir Kingsley Norris was a contemporary of young Willie at Melbourne Grammar and shares a couple of amusing anecdotes in his own autobiography. Willie was one of the two usual suspects called to the front of the class for punishment and had a particular way of crouching to lessen the sting of the cane.

Sir Kingsley tells a story that could have had serious consequences. Willie was in his early teens at the time and had the duty of wheeling his father, WR Guilfoyle around the Botanic Gardens in a wheelchair when he was suffering a painful flare of gout. On one particular afternoon Willie and Kingsley felt quite put out as they had had better things planned - rowing on Albert Park Lake or catching yabbies.

His father was out of sorts and in pain, whacking Willie on his legs with his walking stick if the boy wasn't taking enough care. Well, this proved too much for young Will and coming to the crest of a steep slope, he diverged from the path onto the lawn and gave the chair a push sending it flying downhill. William senior could see the lake looming in front of him and was yelling to Will to save him. To no avail, Willie had run off as fast as he could. The inevitable occurred and William senior  was catapulted from his chair into the lake. Willie had fled to seek refuge in his chook house and Kingsley had hot footed it to his home in Acland St, St Kilda.

The old man was rescued by a gardener.

This mischievous lad ended up a highly decorated Air Commander awarded an O.B.E., a Military Cross and was mentioned in despatches six times in WWI.

Born in Edinburgh, of Australian parents, in 1890 (WR Guilfoyle was on an extensive world tour at this time taking in the UK, Europe and some Pacific countries, it's most likely that his wife accompanied him and gave birth to young Wm James while in Edinburgh). He was educated at Church of England Grammar School, Melbourne. In August 1914 he joined the 4th Light Horse Regiment as a trooper (No 263) but in Egypt in April 1915, transferred to the British Army, receiving a commission in the 13th (East Lancashire ) Brigade, R.F.A.:Served at Cape Helles in May 1915, and, after a turn in hospital at Alexandria, went to England. Learning to fly in June, 1915, he first of all took part in flying operations over London, against Zeppelins. Arrived in Egypt in July, 1916, Guilfoyle joined No 1 Squadron, A.F.C. and was given command of a detached flight at Mahemdia and Kilo 143 afterwards taking part in the operations at Rafa, Romani and Gaza, and winning the Military Cross.

About Christmas, 1916, in company with the late Colonel Oswald Watt, and other Australians, he returned to England to form No2 Squadron, A.F.C. at Harlaxton. While waiting to proceed to France, Guilfoyle met with a bad accident, caused by a spin, and he lost an eye. Upon recovery, he commanded various training stations in England, and was eventually posted to command No 28 Fighting Squadron on the Italian Front, the late Bert Hinkler being one of his officers. Awarded the O.B.E. in December, 1918. After the war he received a permanent commission as a squadron leader in the R.A.F. Proceeding to Egypt for a time, he was in temporary command of the Palestine Brigade, R.A.F. (Reveille Vol 9 No 1 September 1935)

His citation for the Military Cross reads:

Temporary Lieutenant William James Guilfoyle, No. 67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

For conspicuous skill and coolness on the 22nd December, 1916 in the attack on TEL-EL-SHARIA BRIDGE. He dropped his bombs from under a height of 50 feet.
During the reconnaissance of BIR SABA, which took place during the same flight, he displayed skill and coolness while photographing the town under heavy Anti Aircraft fire and repeated attacks from hostile aircraft. This officer’s work shows dash, intelligence and a high order of courage.

In 1922 Wing Commander W.J.Y Guilfoyle was station commander at Farnborough when T.H. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) arrived in cognito as A/c2 Ross. Guilfoyle recognised him from an earlier encounter in Cairo during the war.