Albert H. Guy

Albert Hector Guy (DipAg 1912). 

Second son of John Arliss Guy and Elizabeth Mouter Guy, of Ngatimoti, Nelson. Guy enlisted enlisted on 15th August 1914 from Ngatimoti, Nelson at the age of 23 years and 2 months and emparked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion on 24 September 1914 from Lyttelton, Canterbury, for Wellington. He held the rank of Company Sergeant-Major by the time he was killed in action below Bellevue Spur at Passchendaele on what is known as NZ’s “blackest day” of WWI, 12 October 1917. He was 27. Like so many others, Hecotr Guy's body was lost and he is commemorated at the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing at Zonnebeke in Belgium.

Meritorious Service Medal (MSM): "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the 7th, 8th and 9th June 1917 Sergeant-Major Guy was in command of the Regimental carrying party taking S.A.A., food and water to the Companies in the front line, and although the overland tracks were under continuous heavy shellfire, he never failed to get his parties through. His personal bravery and disregard for saftey inspired his men to carry through an extremely dangerous and difficult task. Again at the capture of the Au Chasseuk Cabaret on the 15th of June, and until the 19th of June, Sergeant-Major Guy was in command of the ration and water party carrying forward to shell-hole positions; and through his personal efforts, gallantry, and devotion to duty, the men in the line were well and regularly fed in spite of intense enemy bombardment." Source: London Gazette, 1 January 1918, p. 77, Rec. No. 1180.

Mentioned in Despatches (MiD): "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the night of the 1st/2nd October on Zonnebeke-Kanas Cross Road, an evening attack was expected and Sergeant-Major Guy was sent up to the forward posts with a supply of S.O.S. flares which had just been received - the signal having been altered. Although a very heavy H.E. barrage had been put down on the support line S.M. Guy worked his way through with his party in spite of great personal risk. His fine personal example inspired his men in their task and they delivered the flares without casualties. The signal was used about four hours later and the foward posts near Otto Farm would have been in great danger if the flares had failed to arrive." Source: London Gazette, 28 December 1917, p. 13575, Rec. No. 1337.