The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Lieut. J. F. V. Guise, R.N. H.M.S. Barham) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Jack Guise was born in Thenida, Bengal, India, on 17 May 1882, and joined Britannia College as a Naval Cadet in 1896 being promoted to Midshipman on 15 September 1898. He gained 8 months seniority on passing out of Britannia having obtained one 1st Class, three 2nd Class and one 3rd Class Certificates. He was appointed to his first ship H.M.S. WARSPITE (September 1898), and served next aboard ANDROMEDA (September 1899) where he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15 March 1902. He was next appointed to MARS (April 1903), WARRIOR for ZEBRA (June 1903), and HANIBAL (October 1903) being promoted to Lieutenant on 31 March 1904. He served next aboard HINDUSTAN (June 1905), DIAMOND (August 1907), ROYAL ARTHUR (January 1909), and BARHAM (January 1909).

Whilst in BARHAM he served on patrol duties off the Somali coast during 1909-10. During the latter year he was repeatedly warned for excessive wine bills and alcohol consumption resulting in his losing three month’s seniority on the Lieutenant’s List, to be severely reprimanded, and to be dismissed his ship. He was next apponted to ENDYMION (May 1911), THUNDERER (June 1912) where he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 30 June 1912, BONAVENTURE (June 1913), and BACCHANTE (August 1913).

He served in BACCHANTE as 1st Lieutenant until February 1916 having been present at the action at Heligoland in 1914, and the landing and evacuation of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. He was subsequently appointed to WELLINGTON for Naval Depot Immingham (March 1916) and CYCLOPS (August 1916) where he continued to serve until 20 April 1919 when he was retired for misconduct under an Order in Council. In the mid-1920’s he decided to accept a post in Australia where he worked for a number of mining companies. A note on his service record dated 1951 reports his complete retirement due to angina pectoritis after 14 years with the Great Boulder Gold Mine and, although he offered his services to the Australian Navy in 1940 the offer was not taken up due to his age.