A Great War ‘Aden Operations’ M.C. group of six awarded to Captain Harry Rivett Cecil Guise, Indian Army Reserve of Officers and Bihar Light Horse, who as a Superintendent in the Indian Police was awarded the K.P.M. & Clasp

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (H. R. C. Guise, Police Dept.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed; Volunteer Force Long Service (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Cpl, Bihar L.H. A.F.I.) impressed naming, mounted as worn, very fine and better (6)
£1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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M.C. London Gazette 4 September 1918. ‘Lt. (T./Capt.), Ind. Army, R. of O.’ ‘... in connection with Military Operations at Aden. Dated 3rd June, 1918’

M.I.D. London Gazette 7 April 1919. ‘... in connection with the military operations at Aden during the period from 16th August, 1917, to 31st January, 1918’.

K.P.M. London Gazette and Gazette of India 1 January 1925. ‘These two officers (also awarded the K.P.M. was James Edgar Pearman, Assistant Superintendent of Police) exhibited qualities of the highest order during the serious floods which occured in Arrah town on the night of the 1th-19th August 1923. Without rest or sleep they were engaged in the arduous work of extricating people for three days and nights, rescuing or assisting in rescuing no less than 500 people at the risk of their own lives. In particular, they exhibited conspicuous gallantry in the following incidents. On the morning of the 19th August, Mr Guise and Mr Pearman noticed some people signalling for help from the roofs of some houses. They were separated by a stream, in which a strong current was flowing. These two officers and two constables swam across the current, thereby running great risk of being carried off into the main flood, and succeeded in rescuing 130 people in the face of further risks. On the same morning they again swam across a similar channel, to the hamlet of Bhaluipore where the houses were rapidly collapsing and put heart into the people and effected many rescues at the risk of their lives. They swam back across the stream and the people were eventually safely taken away by boats from the high ground where they had been collected together by Mr Guise and Mr Pearman. Again, on the same morning, they heard that three women were cut off in a house in Kassipore and, although the approach to the house lay through a rapid current of water, Mr Guise reached the house by means of a rope thrown to him, and Mr Pearman by crawling along the roofs of the adjoining buildings and using a ladder to bridge gaps. The water had then nearly reached the roof of the house and the two officers succeeded in effecting the rescue of the three women and three children, who were conveyed to safety along the roofs of houses by means of a ladder. On completing this piece of dangerous work they leant that there were more people in the lane and immediately retraced their steps and were just in time to save 24 women before all the houses in the lane collapsed. These officers’ example inspired most excellent work on the part of their subordinates, with the result that the relations between the police and the public of Arrah are most cordial. ...’

Clasp to the K.P.M. London Gazette and Gazette of India 2 January 1928. ‘The late Mr Guise was awarded the King’s Police Medal in 1925 in recognition of the conspicuous gallantry which he displayed during the Arrah Floods in August 1923.

Mr Guise died on the 26th December 1926 as a result of an accident while on parade with the Bihar and Orissa Mounted Military Police, of which he was Commandant. The premature death of this gallant officer was a great loss to the Bihar and Orissa Police.

On the morning of the 16th April 1926 he was engaged in investigating serious disturbances in the Shahabad District in which guns had been used. In the evening he received information that a mob of 200 or 300 Hindus armed with lathis was advancing on Sassaram town. He received the information at the Inspection Bungalow and having no time to collect a force, proceeded along the Grand Trunk Road in his car accompanied by only two orderlies. He found a mob of Hindus advancing along the road, and, some distance away, a crowd of Muhammadans was collecting to offer resistance. Realising the necessity for keeping the two mobs separate, Mr Guise got out of his car and attacked unarmed the leaders of one of the crowds, although they were armed with bludgeons. He knocked out two men, whereupon the remainder retreated. There is no doubt that this action of Mr Guise prevented an attack on Sassaram which would have led to widespread rioting in the town, looting and loss of life. He is therefore awarded a bar to his medal’.

Harry Rivett Cecil Guise was born in India on 14 June 1884. When employed as an Articled Clerk to a Solicitor he attested for service in the Dragoons at Bristol on 12 May 1902, aged 18 years, 10 months. He served in South Africa, November 1902-November 1903 and India, September-November 1906. He was discharged in India at his own request on 30 November 1906. In January 1907 he joined the Indian Police and served in Bihar and Orissa. At the same time he rejoined the Volunteers. Guise joined the Indian Army Reserve of Officers as a Lieutenant on 21 April 1915 and was attached to the 12th Cavalry. He was promoted to a Temporary Captain in December 1917. Guise served in operations in Aden and for his services there was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. As a Corporal in the Bihar Light Horse, he was awarded the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, published in I.A.O. 491 of July 1926.

In the Indian Police he was appointed a Probationary Assistant Superintendent in February 1914, Assistant Superintendent 2nd Grade in July 1917, 1st Grade in November 1918, and Superintendent in July 1923. For his conspicuous gallantry during a flood in 1923 and a riot in 1926 he was awarded the King’s Police Medal and clasp. Superintendent Guise died on 26 December 1926, aged 42 years, while tent-pegging at Arrah. Sold with copied research.

Note: K.P.M. and Clasp are not included in the lot.