Commander Basil John Douglas Guy, (9 May 1882 â 29 December 1956) was a 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.
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.
Guy 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 Victoria Cross:
Guy was invested with the Victoria Cross 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 , serving in home waters.
Guy later achieved the rank of commander, having fought in the First World War. He served as commander as the Q-ship Thornhill (which operated under a number of names, including Werribee, Wellhome and Wonganella) 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.