Corporal Alex William Guy was killed by enemy fire in Nad-e-Ali District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Friday 15 June 2012. Cpl Guy was commanding his Fire Support Group during a partnered patrol with the Afghan National Army when the patrol was caught in an insurgent ambush. Cpl Guy was leading his Section forward to assist a group of Afghan soldiers who were pinned down by enemy fire when he was fatally wounded.

Corporal Guy was born on 13 September 1974 in Norwich while his family was stationed at RAF Coltishall. He grew up in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and attended Bushmead Infant School in the town before moving to Ernulf Community School. His association with the military began when, as a young teenager, he joined No 2500 (St Neots) Squadron, Air Training Corps. Alex enlisted into the British Army aged 18, training at the Queen’s Division Depot in Bassingbourn and the Infantry Training Battalion at Ouston, before joining 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in 1993.

Initially posted to 3 Platoon, A (Norfolk) Company, Corporal Guy deployed to East Tyrone for his first tour of duty in Northern Ireland shortly afterwards. Returning in 1994, he moved to 1 Platoon and deployed to Bosnia in 1995. He was identified as a talented young leader and attended a JNCO Cadre. He promoted to Lance Corporal late that year, moving to the Intelligence Cell to deploy twice more to Northern Ireland. As an analyst, he gave ground and intelligence briefings across the range of ranks from private soldiers going on the ground to the Brigade Commander during visits. In 2001 he was selected for training for the Anti-Tank Platoon and attended a number of specialist courses. In 2002 he deployed to Afghanistan for Op Fingal and he promoted to Corporal in 2003. In 2005 he deployed to Iraq on Op Telic 6 before returning to the Intelligence Cell as an analyst for Op Herrick 6, the Battalion’s first deployment to Helmand Province. Following this tour he went to Colchester and then Ipswich as a Recruiting Sergeant, returning to the Battalion in 2010. He then began preparations for his third deployment to Afghanistan as a Fire Support Group Commander on Op Herrick 16. He deployed to Afghanistan in March 2012, working with B Company Scouts Battalion (Estonian Defence Force), who were attached to the Viking Battlegroup.Corporal Guy was a proud member of the Battalion and much loved by all who knew him during his 19 years of service. He was a natural soldier and a popular hardworking leader, who cared deeply about those in his charge. He threw himself into everything he did and will be remembered for his remarkable stoicism, approaching any difficulty with a strong sense of duty and a great sense of humour. His humble yet consummate professionalism set the example for others to follow and it is testament to his strengths that he had recently been selected for promotion to the rank of substantive Sergeant.

Corporal Guy leaves behind his wife, Emma, mother and father, Aileen and Andrew, and two sisters Rebecca and Martha.

TAC