Basil John Douglas Guy

Basil John Douglas Guy was born at Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on 9 May 1882, the son of the Reverend Douglas Sherwood Guy. He was educated at Aysgarth School and Llandaff Cathedral School before entering the Royal Navy's training ship HMS Britannia. In July 1898, he joined the battleship HMS Barfleur, then serving on the China Station.

During the Boxer Rebellion, Barfleur contributed men to the international naval force operating around Tientsin. On 13 July 1900, the 18-year-old Midshipman Guy took part in the attack on Tientsin City. When Able Seaman T. McCarthy was shot approximately 50 yards from cover, Guy remained with him under concentrated enemy fire. Unable to carry the wounded sailor alone, he dressed McCarthy's wound and ran for assistance. Having reached cover, Guy then returned into the fire with the stretcher party and helped carry McCarthy towards safety. McCarthy was struck again and killed during the rescue. For his remarkable courage and complete disregard for his own safety, Guy was awarded the Victoria Cross.

King Edward VII personally presented Guy with the Victoria Cross at Keyham Barracks, Devonport, on 8 March 1902. He also formed part of the naval guard of honour at the King's coronation later that year.

Guy continued his Royal Navy career and served during the First World War. As a Lieutenant Commander, he commanded the Q-ship HMS Wonganella, an armed vessel disguised as a merchant ship to lure German submarines into surface attacks. On 11 March 1917, Wonganella came under heavy shellfire from a submarine while sailing from Malta towards Gibraltar. Several members of her crew were wounded and her boats were damaged, preventing the intended decoy abandonment. With the original deception no longer possible, Guy ordered his concealed guns into action, forcing the submarine to dive. The submarine then fired a torpedo, but Guy successfully manoeuvred Wonganella and the weapon passed approximately ten feet ahead of her bow.

Guy was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 22 May 1917, when his name appeared in The London Gazette under "Honours for Miscellaneous Services." No separate narrative citation for Guy's DSO was published in the Gazette, although his command of HMS Wonganella and his wartime service provide important historical context for the award. He was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1918 and in September 1919 was officially brought to the notice of the Admiralty for valuable services in the prosecution of the war. This recognition was distinct from a formal Mention in Despatches. Guy retired from the Royal Navy in 1923 but returned to service during the Second World War, undertaking staff appointments.

Commander Basil John Douglas Guy VC, DSO died in London in December 1956, aged 74, and was buried in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Pirbright, Surrey. His medal group later became part of the Lord Ashcroft Collection and has been displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.

“On the 13th July, 1900, during the attack on Tientsin City, a very heavy cross-fire was brought to bear on the Naval Brigade, and there were several casualties. Among those who fell was A.B. T. McCarthy, shot about 50 yards short of cover.

Mr. Guy stopped with him, and, after seeing what the injury was, attempted to lift him up and carry him in, but was not strong enough, so after binding up the wound Mr. Guy ran to get assistance.

In the meantime the remainder of the company had passed in under cover, and the entire fire from the city wall was concentrated on Mr. Guy and McCarthy. Shortly after Mr. Guy had got in under cover the stretchers came up, and again Mr. Guy dashed out and assisted in placing McCarthy on the stretcher and carrying him in.

The wounded man was, however, shot dead just as he was being carried into safety. During the whole time a very heavy fire had been brought to bear upon Mr. Guy, and the ground around him was absolutely ploughed up.”