Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Owen McGuinness (known as Jim) was born on 29 May 1892 at Longbeach near Ashburton, the youngest son of Owen and Catherine (Kate, née Scheales/Shields) McGuinness, of Longbeach, Ashburton. Owen and Catherine who had married in 1881 in New Zealand, had four sons and two daughters, the youngest born at Timaru in 1898. Owen McGuinness had charge of the Friesian cattle when they were first landed at Longbeach Estate. In late June 1895, when a ballot was taken at the Land Office, Christchurch, for sections in the Levels County, O. McGuinness won Lot 5 in the Rosebrook Settlement. James started at Claremont School in 1897 a few months after his fifth birthday, joining his older brothers Thomas and Michael. He transferred to Gleniti School in September 1899 and left there in April 1900 when the family left the district for Lowcliffe. Mr Owen McGuinness sold his farm of 202 acres at Lowcliffe in June 1913 and purchased 10 acres at Longbeach the following month. James was a farm labourer with his father at Longbeach.

Come August 1914, and Mr O. McGuinness was contributing to the Ashburton Patriotic Fund. In March 1915, his eldest son John contributed to the Belgian Relief Fund, and in June 1918 to the Trench Comforts Fund. James Owen McGuinness was medically examined on 6 May 1916 at Ashburton. He was 5 feet 9½ inches tall, weighed 10 stone 5 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37½ inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes blue and his hair dark brown. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health. He had never been absent from work through illness or accident.

Being compete, South Canterbury’s quota for the 18th Reinforcements left for Trentham on 28 June 1916. The Ashburton men would join the second express north to Lyttelton. There was a large attendance at the Ashburton Drill Hall on the afternoon of 28 June 1916, when the Ashburton quota of the men of the Eighteenth Reinforcements was entertained by the ladies of Lismore. Ashburton on this occasion not only sent away its full quota but also supplied an additional 20 men to make up for a shortage in other places, making a total of 67 men who left in the evening. “The Rev. W. E. Sleep, Lismore, in saying a few words of farewell to the men, said he considered it was a great honour to be present at the gathering. He was very proud of the men who had come forward and offered their services to their Empire, because he realised that they were all making great sacrifices. He congratulated the district on being able to raise such a large number of men. He trusted that those who were going away would be blessed with health and strength to go through the battle, and that they would return safely to their loved ones. He asked the men while on active service not to forget their parents, but to write to them on every possible occasion. He assured them that parents were always anxiously awaiting letters from their boys. The nation, he said, had undertaken a great task in the present war, and he was certain they were fighting on the side of the right. . . . . . In conclusion he hoped that God would bless the departing men and spare their lives.” The ladies of Lismore were congratulated on their excellent catering and the general arrangements for farewelling the men. Cheers were given for the departing soldiers. “The men were then allowed a brief interval to say good-bye to their relatives and friends before the whistle sounded to fall in. Headed by the Citizens’ Defence Corps Band, they marched to the station, where a large crowd took part in the final farewells, and, as the train steamed out, the men were warmly cheered.” Among those who left by the train was J. O. McGuinness.

Having registered for compulsory military training at Hinds, James belonged to the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment and was a labourer at Longbeach when he enlisted on 28 June 1916 at Trentham. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Owen McGuinness, Longbeach, Ashburton. He was posted to the 18th Reinforcements. Private James Owen McGuinness was admitted to hospital at Featherston Camp on 15 August 1916 with measles and discharged a week later. On 15 September, when James and five other soldiers were preparing to go on active service, a very successful and enjoyable function, arranged by the Ashburton Catholic community, was held in the Masonic Hall to bid them farewell. There was a splendid attendance, and a very enjoyable programme of songs, a violin solo and a pianoforte duet was given. ‘In presenting each soldier with a useful article as a token of esteem, the Rev. Father O’Donnell spoke on the duties of a soldier, and gave them some advice which will be useful to them when in camp and on active service. In conclusion, he wished them God-speed and a safe return. The gathering concluded with the singing of the National Anthem and “Auld Lang Syne.”’

Private J. O. McGuinness embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 18th Reinforcements per the “Tofua”, departing from Wellington for England on 11 October 1916 and disembarking at Plymouth on 29 December. Marching into Sling, he was posted to the Canterbury Battalion. He left for France on 1 February 1917, marched in at Etaples a few days later, then joined the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment in the Field on 3 March. After being attached to the New Zealand Wing Reinforcement Camp on 30 September 1917, he rejoined his Unit on 25 October. Having gone to the UK on leave on 24 January 1918, James McGuinness rejoined his Unit on 11 February. The fateful day was 27 March 1918 when he was killed in action in the Field at Malley Mallet in the Second Battle of the Somme, France, 25 years old. The casualty list (No. 826) issued on 11 April 1918 recorded that Private J. O. McGuinness (Ashburton) had been killed in action on 27 March 1918. Although it was recorded at the time that he was buried at Auchonvillers, there would appear to be no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial in the Grevillers British Cemetery, France. His name is inscribed on the Ashburton War Memorial. He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in the Ashburton Cemetery. James had signed his Will at Trentham on 11 October 1916, bequeathing all his estate to his father, Mr Owen McGuiness, Longbeach, Ashburton. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal, memorial plaque and scroll were all sent to his father. The photo of Private J. O. McGuinness printed in the Auckland Weekly News 1918 is attached to his Cenotaph record. Through a notice in the Ashburton Guardian on 16 April and the NZ Tablet of 25 April, Mr and Mrs O. McGuinness, Longbeach, expressed thanks to their many friends for their letters and telegrams of sympathy received during their recent sad bereavement.

Later in April 1918, Mrs O. McGuinness contributed to the Red Cross Blanket Fund. Owen McGuinness died at his Longbeach residence on 16 July 1924. The following month his 10-acre property with dwelling and outbuildings was passed in at auction. Kate died there on 31 August 1927. They are buried at Ashburton with their son Michael Francis who died in January 1908 when he contracted pneumonia at a ploughing camp. Two nephews of James Owen Guinness served in World War Two – Lawrence John Genet (son of Annie McGuinness) and Francis John McGuinness (son of Thomas McGuinness). A postcard written by Jim to his father from Sling Camp, Bulford, Salisbury Camp on 31 January 1917 is held by the Genet family and is posted on WikiTree. “. . . . . . but to tell you the truth Dad they drill you so solid here a fellow hasn’t much time of your own. Well hoping you & Mum & Mary [younger sister] are all well I will say Good-bye. . . . .”

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [31 July 2016]; CWGC [31 July 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5544 0073643) [10 August 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [31 July 2016]; Timaru Herald, 29 June 1895, 12 April 1918, Ashburton Guardian, 7 June 1913, 21 July 1913, 24 August 1914, 26 March 1915, 27 & 29 June 1916, 16 September 1916, 11 & 16 April 1918, 1 May 1918, 10 June 1918, 16 July 1924, 31 August 1927, Press, 12 April 1918, NZ Tablet, 25 April 1918, 30 May 1918 (Papers Past) [31 July 2016; 10 & 11 November 2025]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [31 July 2016]; Ashburton Cemetery headstone transcription [11 August 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [10 November 2025]; James Owen McGuinness – search (www.wikitree.com) [10 November 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• McGUINNESS James Owen - newspaper clippings (pdf, 135.7 KB updated 19-Dec-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS