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{{Short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Guy George Egerton Wylly
|image= Guy Wylly A04423.JPG
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Major Guy Wylly c.1920
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth date|1880|02|17|df=yes}}
|birth_place= [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], Australia
|death_date= {{death date and age|1962|01|09|1880|02|17|df=yes}}
|death_place= [[Camberley]], [[Surrey]], England
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= Australia United Kingdom
|branch= [[Tasmanian Colonial Forces]] (1900) [[British Army]] (1900–02) [[British Indian Army]] (1902–33)
|serviceyears= 1900–33
|rank= [[Colonel]]
|unit=
|commands= [[6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]]
|battles= [[Second Boer War]] [[First World War]] [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North-West Frontier]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]] [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] [[Distinguished Service Order]] [[Mentioned in Despatches]] (7)
|relations=
|laterwork= [[Aide-de-camp]] to the [[Commander-in-Chief, India]] (1906–09) Aide-de-camp to [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] (1926–33)
}}
'''Guy George Egerton Wylly''', {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|VCi|CB|DSO}} (17 February 1880 – 9 January 1962) was a senior [[British Indian Army]] officer and an [[List of Australian Victoria Cross recipients|Australian recipient]] of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces, for actions during the [[Second Boer War]].

==Early life==
Wylly was born on 17 February 1880 in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], to Edward Arthur Egerton Wylly; an officer in the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]], and his wife Henrietta Mary, née Clerk.

As an infant Wylly went to India with his parents, before settling at [[Sandy Bay, Tasmania|Sandy Bay]], [[Hobart]] in 1885, where he attended [[The Hutchins School]] before completing his education at the [[Collegiate School of St Peter, Adelaide]]. His father retired from the army in 1888.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25870|page=5890|date=30 October 1888}}</ref>

==Boer War==
As a 20-year-old, he became a [[First Lieutenant|lieutenant]] in the [[Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen]], raised to fight in the Second Boer War.

On 1 September 1900 near [[Warm Bad]], Transvaal, South Africa, Lieutenant Wylly was part of a force under [[Herbert Plumer]] which engaged a small group of Boers at [[Rooikop]]. The Imperial forces captured 100 rifles, 40,000 rounds of ammunition, 7 Boers, 350 cattle, and 2 supply wagons. After the engagement, Wylly was reported to have been severely wounded, along with another Tasmanian officer, and 3 men from the Bushmen.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War. British Successes |agency=Reuters |department=News |date=5 September 1900 |page=3 |issue=36239 |column=A }}</ref>

On 18 September 1900, the ''[[London Gazette]]'' carried an announcement that Wylly had been granted a commission as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Royal Berkshire Regiment]], on the nomination of the [[Governor of Tasmania]], backdated to 19 May 1900.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27230|page=5765|date=18 September 1900}}</ref> On 16 November, this appointment was cancelled for some reason.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27247|page=7020|date=16 November 1900}}</ref> On 23 November his VC was gazetted, with the following citation:<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27249|supp=y|page=7385|date=23 November 1900}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, Lieutenant Guy G. E. Wylly

On the 1st September, 1900, near Warm Bad, Lieutenant Wylly was with the advanced scouts of a foraging party. They were passing through a narrow gorge, very rocky and thickly wooded, when the enemy in force suddenly opened fire at short range from hidden cover, wounding six out of the party of eight, including Lieutenant Wylly. That Officer, seeing that one of his men was badly wounded in the leg, and that his horse was shot, went back to the man's assistance, made him take his (Lieutenant Wylly's) horse, and opened fire from behind a rock to cover the retreat of the others, at the imminent risk of being cut off himself. Colonel T. E. Hickman, D.S.O., considers that the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Wylly saved Corporal Brown from being killed or captured, and that his subsequent action in firing to cover the retreat was "instrumental in saving others of his men from death or capture."}}

On 5 December, came a new commission as a second lieutenant, now in the [[South Lancashire Regiment]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27253|page=8215|date=4 December 1900}}</ref> Confusingly, ''[[The Times]]'' of 14 January 1901 listed in a report of killed and wounded "2nd Berkshire Regiment.—Lieut. G. Wylly, dangerously wounded, doing well, Nooitgedacht, date not stated."<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War. British Successes |agency=Reuters |department=News |date=5 September 1900 |page=3 |issue=36239 |column=A }}</ref> Whether this was a new wound, or he had not yet recovered from the wound he received in September, his condition was such that he was invalided to England, leaving [[Cape Town]] on 5 March 1901, on the hospital ship ''Avoca'', which arrived at Southampton on 26 March. The report of this also indicates that he was serving with 2nd Battalion, South Lancs.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War. The King and the Scottish Horse|department=News |date=27 March 1901|page=11|issue=36413|column=A }}</ref> By the following Sunday, 31 March, when the [[United Kingdom Census 1901]] was taken, he was staying with his uncle, Robert M Clark, a retired colonel, at Charlton House in [[Shepton Mallett]].<ref>Clark household on [http://www.1901censusonline.com/person.asp?wci=person_with_schedule&key=35770681&enc=33353339333D333F333A334233463341&searchwci=person_search&resultswci=person_results&frommap= 1901censusonline.com]. [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] reference, [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/externalrequest.asp?requestreference=RG13/2313 RG 13/2313, folio 95, page 27, schedule number 183]. Fee usually required to view census transcription and images of original enumeration books.</ref> He was presented with his VC at [[Buckingham Palace]] by [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] on 25 July 1901.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Court Circular |department=Court and Social|date=26 July 1901|page=3|issue=36517|column=E}}</ref>

On 5 March 1902 he was promoted to lieutenant in the South Lancashire Regiment.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27432|page=3091|date=9 May 1902}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27468 |page=5535 |date=26 August 1902}}</ref> He transferred to the Indian Army on 1 October 1902.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27532|page=1509|date=6 March 1903}}</ref>

On 7 January 1906 Wylly was appointed the [[aide-de-camp]] to the commander in chief, [[India]], who was then [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener]]. Wylly had been serving with the [[Corps of Guides (British India)|Corps of Guides]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27897|page=2068|date=23 March 1906}}</ref> He was promoted [[captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 26 April 1909.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28262|page=4473|date=22 June 1909}}</ref> In 1913 he passed the examination for entry to the [[Staff College, Quetta]], but not high enough up the list to be admitted immediately.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Staff Colleges. Graduates at Camberley|department=News |date=5 February 1913|page=13|issue=40127|column=G}}</ref>

==First World War and after==
Four months after the [[British entry into World War I]], he was appointed a staff captain on 14 December 1914,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29078|supp=y|page=1810|date=19 February 1915}}</ref> and advanced to [[brigade major]] on 14 September 1915.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29319|supp=y|page=9869|date=5 October 1915}}</ref> He finally completed the staff course at Quetta in February 1916,<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Staff College, Quetta. List of Graduates|department=News |date=5 February 1916|page=5|issue=41082|column=G}}</ref> was promoted to temporary [[major (United Kingdom)|major]] on 26 April 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29675|pages=7496–7498|date=28 July 1916}}</ref> and on 20 June 1916 he was appointed a general staff officer, Grade 2.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29675|page=7223|date=21 July 1916}}</ref> He was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] on 15 June 1916.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29623|supp=y|page=5924|date=21 July 1916}}</ref> Following Lord Kitchener's death, Wylly, along with others who had also served as Kitchener's aides, received a bequest of £200.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Lord Kitchener's Will. African Estate Left To Col. Fitzgerald|department=News |date=1 July 1916|page=11|issue=41208|column=F}}</ref> He received a further Mention in Despatches on 15 May 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30072|supp=y|page=4753|date=15 May 1917}}</ref> and again on 11 December 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30421|supp=y|page=12923|date=7 December 1917}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] in the [[1918 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30450|supp=y|pages=17–26|date=28 December 1917}}</ref>

The war came to an end on [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|11 November 1918]] and, during the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]], Wylly again served as a general staff officer, Grade 2 from 6 May 1919.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32398|page=5833|date=22 July 1921}}</ref> He was promoted lieutenant colonel on 26 April 1926.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33173|page=3971|date=18 June 1926}}</ref> From 15 November 1926<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33295|supp=y|page=4647|date=19 July 1927}}</ref> until his retirement in 1933, Wylly was an aide-de-camp to [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]]. On 9 November 1929 he was appointed an assistant adjutant and quartermaster general (AA & QMG) in India, he had also by now been given [[brevet (military)|brevet]] promotion to colonel.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33577|page=801|date=7 February 1930}}</ref> He received substantive promotion to colonel on 26 April 1930, with seniority from 15 November 1926.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33619|page=4028|date=27 June 1930}}</ref> On 6 May 1931 he was Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the campaign against the [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1919–1939 (between the wars)|Afridi and Red Shirt Rebellion]] as AA & QMG [[Peshawar District]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33823|page=2959|date=6 May 1932}}</ref> He was appointed [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] in the 1933 [[King's Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33946|supp=y|page=3802|date=2 June 1933}}</ref> He received a further Mention on 8 September 1933 for his part in the [[Chitral Reliefs]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33976|page=5863|date=8 September 1933}}</ref> He stepped down as AA & QMG of Peshawar on 9 November 1933,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34014|page=317|date=12 January 1934}}</ref> retired from the army on 30 December.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34009|page=8448|date=29 December 1933}}</ref> A final Mention was gazetted on 3 July 1934, for his part in the Mohmand and Bajaur Operations between 28 July and 3 October 1933.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34066|page=4227|date=3 July 1934}}</ref> He attended an investiture at [[Buckingham Palace]] on 27 February 1934 to receive his insignia for the Order of the Bath.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title= Court Circular |department=Court and Social|date=28 February 1934|page=17|issue=46690|column=B}}</ref> Following his retirement he worked for the Retired Army Officers Employment Bureau.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title= Retired Army Officers Employment Bureau Established, Success of Experiment|department=News|date=3 December 1934|page=11|issue=46927|column=A}}</ref> Although he did not reach the age limit for service until 17 February 1940, he was not recalled for service in the Second World War.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34812|page=1543|date=15 March 1940}}</ref>

He died on 9 January 1962 in Camberley, Surrey, at the age of 81. His medal is on display at the [[Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery]], Hobart.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041028141342/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/wokingcr.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Woking Crematorium)''
*[http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120658b.htm Extensive Biography at Australian Dictionary of Biography]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wylly, Guy George Egerton}}
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials in Surrey]]
[[Category:British colonels]]
[[Category:Royal Berkshire Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Tasmania]]
[[Category:Australian Army officers]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Second Boer War]]
[[Category:Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide]]
[[Category:People from Hobart]]
[[Category:Second Boer War recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:South Lancashire Regiment officers]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Afghan War]]

Guy Wylly - Revision history

Bot at 10:35, 3 October 2022