On 23 September 1940, McGuinness was seriously injured in a naval accident when his ship ran aground; McGuinness’ leg was broken when the ship’s tow cable snapped and he spent the next 11 months convalescing at Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While in hospital McGuinness contracted scarlet fever and diphtheria and developed osteomyelitis as a complication of his femur facture. McGuinness returned to Winnipeg to continue his convalescence at Deer Lodge Hospital and was ultimately discharged from the navy in 1941.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness in traction in a hospital bed, possibly at Camp Hill Hospital.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness (centre) posing with his honorary doctorate. BU president Dennis Anderson and BU chancellor Martin Kavanagh stand to his left and right, respectively.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness at a Pierre Burton book signing for "The Promised Land." Mr. Burton is seated at table in the concourse of the Brandon Shoppers' Mall in front of Doigs.
Photograph shows the interior of Fred McGuinness' office at the Medicine Hat News. Fred is seen scribbling on a notepad at his desk. The newspaper was located at Second Street and Sixth Avenue in downtown Medicine Hat until it moved in 1981.
Photograph shows BU president Dennis Anderson placing honorary doctorate hood on Fred McGuinness while BU chancellor Martin Kavanagh speaks at podium. Gallagher McGuinness (top left) is part of platform party on the stage at the Centennial Auditorium.
Photograph shows the McGuinness family in laying in the grass. Baby Fred McGuinness lays before his mother, Isabella Louisa McGuinness, and his three older sisters Mary, Dorreene, and Ruth.