John George Hamilton Guy
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of John Hamilton Guy a traveller with Bass & Co and Fanny Guy. He was the brother of Lois, Elsie and Edna May Guy. In 1911 they lived at 23 Rothesay Avenue Derby Road Nottingham. His effects of £14. 12s 14d (including War Gratuity of £6) went to his father John H, on 3/4/20 (death presumed) and property to Mr J H Guy 45 Derby Grove Lenton Sands Nottingham on 3/6/20. His army family sheet dated 12 May 1920 showed them living at 45 Derby Grove Lenton Sands Nottingham.
John George Hamilton Guy enlisted in the Derbyshire Yeomanry on 21 September 1916. He was 17 years and 286 days and 5 feet 5 inches. After attesting he was placed on the Army Reserve until 22 February 1917 when he mobilised and posted to 2/1 Derbyshire Yeomanry, which by this time had become a cyclist unit based near Canterbury Kent. On 24 December 1917 (probably near his 19th birthday) he was transferred to 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). He embarked from Folkestone and disembarked at Boulogne on 24 December. He arrived with the battalion on 29 December 1917 which was based at Red Rose camp near Ypres, in Divisional reserve. The 22nd March 1918 saw the 1st Battalion digging in on the west bank of the River Somme and the following day the 2nd Devons and 2nd Northamptons came up on the left and right of the them. The 8th Division was allocated a front line of some 16,000 yards and told to stay there, no matter what. The enemy pressed and attempted to cross the river by a bridge at St Christ but counter attacks by the Foresters saw them thrown back, although at the cost of the Commanding Officer. The enemy continued to attack, attempting to cross the Somme but the exhausted Foresters hung on, until at 4.15pm. On 25th, orders were issued to withdraw to a second line. By this time the battalion was almost surrounded but taking their wounded with them, the men charged through the enemy and made it back to the Brigade. At Misery the battalion was reorganised and then marched back to Ertrees. At 4 am on 26th the battalion was ordered to rejoin the Brigade at Vermandovillers and after a couple of hours rest they went into the line again until 5 pm, when what was left of the battalion was withdrawn to Rosieres as supporting battalion. At some point John was killed and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on Pozieres Memorial Panel 52 to 54
In memoriam published 26th March 1920 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “GUY. – In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. Jack Guy, 1st Sherwood Foresters, presumed killed March 26th, 1918. Ever in our thoughts. – From father, mother, and sisters.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
