John Christopher Guise

John Christopher Guise was born at Highnam, Gloucestershire, on 27 July 1826, the youngest son of General Sir John Wright Guise, 3rd Baronet, GCB, a veteran of the Peninsular War, and Charlotte Diana Vernon. Educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Guise entered the British Army as an ensign in the 90th Regiment of Foot in 1845. He advanced rapidly, becoming a lieutenant and then captain on 9 November 1846.

Guise served briefly in the Crimean War, arriving before Sebastopol on 5 December 1854. Illness curtailed his service and he was invalided home on 24 December. Despite the brevity of his deployment, he qualified for the Crimea Medal with the Sebastopol clasp and the Turkish Crimea Medal. He was promoted to major on 20 July 1855.

In 1857, Guise accompanied the 90th Regiment to India during the uprising against British rule. The regiment formed part of Sir Colin Campbell's force during the operations to relieve the besieged British garrison at Lucknow. Guise distinguished himself in the fighting there on 16 and 17 November 1857.

His Victoria Cross was unusual in that the official citation did not identify a single specific act of gallantry. Instead, it recorded his conspicuous gallantry in action over the two days and stated that he had been elected by the officers of the 90th Regiment. The award was announced in The London Gazette on 24 December 1858. Guise's Victoria Cross was presented in India in 1859, although the precise date, presenter and circumstances of the presentation have not yet been conclusively verified.

Guise subsequently took part in the final operations for the capture of Lucknow in March 1858. His Indian Mutiny Medal carried the clasps Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow. He later commanded the 90th Regiment from 1861 to 1864 and continued to advance through the senior ranks, ultimately attaining the rank of lieutenant-general. In 1869 he was appointed a Companion of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath.

In 1890, Guise became colonel of the Leicestershire Regiment, a regimental appointment he retained for the remainder of his life. He died at St Waleran House, Gorey, County Wexford, on 5 February 1895, aged 68, and was buried in Christ Church churchyard, Gorey. His Victoria Cross and medal group are held in the Lord Ashcroft Collection.