Guy | Melvern Roy
Biography
Roy, son of Melvern and Rachel May Guy, (nee Griffiths), was born in 1923 and lived in The Bungalow, Penrhiw, Risca Wales. He had one brother Bernard Guy and one sister Doreen Guy.
He worked for a haulage contractor and was in the Home Guard for three years before joining D Company 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles. He went to France a week after D Day.
Military career
The battalion took part in the D-Day landings in June 1944 and fought in the Battle of Normandy, specifically in Operation Charnwood where they were the first British troops to enter the city of Caen, which had previously seen bitter fighting in the British attempt to capture it.
From mid July until mid September they remained in France, alternating between spells of fighting and spells of rest and training.
On 16 September they made the long journey from their last base in France at Hacqueville to Naast near Soignes in Belgium. The War Diary states that “from Albert to Mons people lined the streets of the towns giving us a very warm welcome and presented us with fruit. In some places the crowds which congregated made it rather difficult for the convoy to get through”. They moved on a further 112 miles the following day to Kolis near Lille St Hubert. Again “cheering crowds welcomed us in every town and village, presenting us with coffee and more fruit.”
On 18 and 19 September the Battalion was involved in extending and solidifying the bridgehead over the Escaut Canal which had already been made by 50 Division.
On 21 September, they crossed from Belgium into the Netherlands at Maarheeze, where they rested until the 24th before moving on to Deurne on the 15th, Bakel on the 29th, Beers on 1 October and then Cuijk on 2 October. They remained in the vicinity of Cuijk until 11 October, experiencing some shelling but also undertaking training and relaxation. The War Diary reports that “The Battalion football team played a local Eleven at Beers, our team gaining an easy victory by 5 goals to 1. The game was watched by a large number of spectators & the Band was loudly applauded when they played during the interval & after the game.”
Read here the detailed story about 8 october 1944, the day of the match, told after the war by the son of Sergeant Reginald Hammersley who played along and survived the war himself.
On 12 October, the Battalion moved about 10 miles south of Cuijk via Haps, St Hubert and Wanroij to near St Anthonis. It was decided that the 3rd British Infantry Division, of which the Battalion was a part, would clear the area of woody country as far as Venray and possibly further. The role of the Battalion was to lead the Brigade with the intention of capturing & clearing the large wood to the south west of Overloon. The following day they therefore marched from St Anthonis southwards and the initiative started at 0900 hrs. They had a few casualties crossing the open ground but had more cover once in the wood. However, the wood presented its own problems as it varied in thickness, tracks through it were soft and sandy and the tracks and woods on the map bore little relation to tracks and woods on the ground. Most of the enemy had, however, left the wood and they reached their intended position by 1800 hrs. Tanks had been unable to help as they could not follow the infantry through the wood. Indeed, no vehicles could reach the forward companies because tracks had not been cleared of mines so food, water, blankets & greatcoats had to manhandled up to the company positions by relays of working parties. They also had to dig in – so little sleep was had that night. Casualties during the day had not been heavy and these few were caused principally by mortar fire. Unfortunately Melvern Roy Guy was one of them and was killed in action that day by mortar fire. He was buried in a field grave in the woods of Helder, together with 5 of his comrades.
On May 29 1947 he was reburied at Overloon War Cemetery.
Roy Guy and Stanley Grey, his brother-in-law who served with the 33 rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery, have met at some point in the area of Overloon while both the regiments were there. That is a lovely thought.
Aftermath
The South Wales Argus newspaper reported that his parents received a letter from his lieutenant, who wrote that Rifleman Guy had been with his platoon ever since the beginning of their advance through France, and that they all missed him, both as a soldier and as a friend. “He fought well to the end and is a great loss to the platoon.” added the letter.
The Argus further reported “His brother in law, Gunner Stanley Grey RA who went to France for the second time in this war on D Day, has seen Rifleman Guy’s grave in Holland and says it is well cared for, and covered with white flowers.”
His headstone is inscribed with, “Always Thoughtful Willing And Kind, What A Beautiful Memory He Left Behind.”
In the family was a photo of a visit by Roy’s father and brother-in-law Stanley Grey who wanted to see where he was buried. What they remember about it is that all around all the trees had been blown up and large artillery pieces lay around it.
Stanley’s son, Philip Grey, visited his grave in 1979. ‘It broke my heart, walking past all those rows,’ he said.
Wendy Hale, great-niece of Roy, recalls her mother Lorraine, Doreen Guy’s daughter, telling her that Melvern would have brought home a porcelain doll for her from Germany. He must have returned home at some point, because she had the doll until she got married and then it was passed on to another family member. Lorraine was 2 years old when it was killed.
Letters to home
While in France and the Netherlands Roy wrote several letters to his parents, which are still kept by his relatives. Roy’s friend, Rifleman V. McCormack has sent a letter to his parents, soon after Roy’s death. Wendy Hale, his great-niece did transcribe them. Read them here:
