Basil John Douglas Guy

Commander Basil John Douglas Guy was an English Royal Navy officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Guy was born on 9 May 1882, the son of Sherwood Guy, the Vicar of Christ Church, High Harrogate. Guy was educated at Aysgarth School, followed by The Cathedral School, Llandaff and finally the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, Devon.

Details

He was 18 years old, and a midshipman in the Royal Navy serving at during the Boxer Rebellion in China, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
Guy was invested with the decoration by King Edward VII on 8 March 1902, during a royal visit to Devonport Royal Dockyard.
After returning from China, he served on in the Channel Fleet. He was appointed action sub-lieutenant on 15 January 1902, and confirmed in this rank after a year. On 31 December 1902 was posted to the destroyer HMS Zephyr, serving in home waters.

Further information

Guy later achieved the rank of commander having fought in the First World War. He served as commander as the Q-ship Thornhill and clashed several times with enemy submarines. In June 1918, Guy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for an engagement with a submarine in March 1917. His VC is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London.