Name/Title
1945 - Colonel Guy Vincent Gurney, OBE, MC - 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG) No 2 Blues TunicDescription
For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection
*** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
1945 - Colonel Guy Vincent Gurney, OBE, MC - 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG) No 2 Blues Tunic
ABOUT THE CGG OFFICER
GURNEY, GUY VINCENT, OBE, MC (1893-1975), CSM 1st Bn CEF / Major 1st Bn /Colonel 22nd CAR (CGG)
Born on 6 November 1883, from the parish of Camberwell, London, UK, Colonel Guy Vincent Gurney, OBE, MC was a Canadian WWI and WW2 Soldier and Officer who served as one of the highest-ranking Officers with The Canadian Grenadier Guards and the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment during WWI. Although not with the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF during WWI, he was in command of Canadian Grenadiers throughout his career. Enlisting as a Private in the 1st Battalion (Ontario Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force (Regimental Service Number 6332), Pte Gurney was recognized for his leadership and capabilities and was quickly promoted from Private to Corporal within 3 Months and promoted to Sergeant by 24th April 1915. In December 1915, he was granted a rare field commission to 2nd Lt. and Acting Lieutenant with the CEF. He filled the role of Battalion Intelligence Officer responsible for scouting and reconnaissance and was awarded a Military Cross and promoted to Captain in 1916 after being wounded in action on the 15th of June.
Military Cross Citation: “Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Guy Vincent Gurney - For Conspicuous gallantry. He carries out a series of daring reconnaisssances, on one of which he climbed up on the enemy’s parapet and rendered valuable reports. On another occasion he twice carried important messages under heavy fire. (London Gazette 29713 18 August 1916)
In 1917, he was transferred to CEF General Headquarters in a support role in the Auditor General’s Department in Surrey, UK. This would be a role that he would continue During WW2 as an attached Senior Staff Officer with the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG). He was promoted Major in 1919 and returned to Canada on demobilization. He immigrated to the US (New York State) in 1927 and resided there until 1939 when he returned to Montreal and attested as a Senior Officer with CGG at the start of WW2. Following the 22nd CAR to England, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and worked for the Auditor General’s Office in the UK as one of CGG’s highest ranking Officers. In July, 1945, he worked as the Canadian Embassy Military Attache to the US in Washington DC, and was invested with the US Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer) in October 1945, and as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1946. After WW2 he returned to the US and relocated to Hawaii where he remained until his passing in 1975. He is the only CGG member to be buried in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
March 16, 2025Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
August 23, 2025
