Philip Aloysius McGuinness (b. 1891)
Philip was born in the Gateshead district (Felling) in the September quarter of 1891 (Gateshead 10a 886). confirmed With his brother he helped run the family drapery after 1907. likely
An officer, 1915–1917
- Commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant, Northumberland Fusiliers (Service Battalions), dated 5.2.1915. confirmed Gazette 10.9.1915
- Transferred to the General List on 24.8.1916. confirmed Gazette 21.9.1916. Officers seconded to the Royal Flying Corps were usually moved to the General List, so this is probably when he began flying. likely
- Named again in a General List notice in 1917, probably his promotion to Lieutenant. unconfirmed Gazette 30.3.1917
- “Temp. Lt. P. A. McGuinness, Gen. List, is dismissed the Service by sentence of a General Court-Martial. 3rd Sept. 1917.” confirmed Gazette 26.9.1917
His service file
Philip's officer's service file at The National Archives, Kew, photographed by the family, fills in the story. confirmed
- 10.2.1916: as a Second Lieutenant in the 30th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, he writes to the Adjutant asking him to reconsider his application to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps: “I have had a slight experience of the work… keenly interested”.
- 15.4.1916: writing from Hornsea Bridge Camp, Yorkshire, he encloses battalion orders showing that he qualified for a special certificate in bombing.
- 15.4.1917: Lieut. P. McGuinness, General List, of No. 38 Reserve Squadron, is injured at Rendcombe in Gloucestershire. His machine, Avro 5920, side-slipped and crashed. He suffered concussion and a severe scalp wound.
- 7.7.1917: the squadron reports that he “was to blame” for the accident.
- 13.7.1917: 21st Wing RFC, Cirencester, reports him under open arrest pending a General Court-Martial.
- 27.7.1917: he is tried by General Court-Martial at Rendcombe for conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline: on 15.4.1917 he “piloted an aeroplane when unfit through indulgence in alcoholic stimulants”. He is found guilty and sentenced to be dismissed His Majesty's Service. The proceedings reached the War Office on 13.8.1917, and the dismissal was gazetted with effect from 3.9.1917.
- 8.8.1917: a medical board at the Air Board Office finds Lt P.A. McGuinness (aged 26, with 2½ years' service, 14 months of it in the RFC) had been unconscious for three days after the crash. He had “nervous debility” and no memory at all of the 20 hours before the accident. He is fit for light duty at home, but not for flying.
- 27 October (year missing, probably 1917): the Ministry of National Service notes that P.A. McGuinness of Shanid House, Felling-on-Tyne, has “resigned his commission… not on the grounds of ill-health”, and asks whether he is liable to be called up. That is how he came to serve again, in the ranks.
Source: officer's service file, The National Archives, Kew, photographed by the family.
The records bear out much of this: the crash, the head injury, the days unconscious (three, in the file) and the drink. They do not say why he was flying that day. Rendcombe is a very long way from Felling, so the visit to his mother rests on family memory alone.
Sergeant pilot and the Distinguished Flying Medal
Philip went back into the ranks. As Sergeant 109538, No. 11 Squadron (France), from Felling-on-Tyne, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. confirmed Gazette 3.6.1919
“Sergt. Philip Aloysius McGuinness, D.F.M.” was given a temporary commission as Second Lieutenant on 3.5.1919. He was transferred to the unemployed list on the same day. confirmed Gazette 25.11.1919
Later life
A Philip A. McGuinness died in York in the March quarter of 1967, aged 75 (York 2d 834). This fits his age, and he is probably our Philip. likely He did not marry in the north-east. Two Manchester marriages of a Philip A. McGuinness (1931 and 1947) may or may not be him. unconfirmed