Sad news, but Sapper/Brian was a good man to act as a latter-day spokesman for his comrades (and, indeed, his generation). May he rest in peace. I was reading through his, Tom Canning's, Joe Brown's and Ron Goldstein's posts with great interest long before I ever registered here. My thanks for all they have done, back then and since.
RIP Brian Guy (Sapper) His name has now been added to the Roll of Honour as someone who contributed much to this forum. Forum Roll of Honour We offer our sincere condolences to his family Ron
RIP Brian ‘sapper’ Guy. You were very friendly towards me when I first joined the forum and remained so. Always a gentleman. It is sad that you felt you had to discontinue contributing to the forum after 2 January 2016. You were missed.
Sapper Brian was one of those individuals who could recount the horrors and aftermath of war.When he thought he should counter comment on here,he did. Despite his serious injuries he was able to earn a living, involved within the technology at the Winfrith nuclear reactor research establishment.I remember one or two posts where he paid tribute to the surgeon who operated on him and made his life so much better after being seriously wounded. I noted of recent that his posts had fallen off as like everyone we cannot escape from the passage of time. A sad passing of another veteran who served his country well.....condolences to James and his family
Harry et al Brian, along with quite a few of his contemporaries, could, at times, be considered bloody awkward (as could yours truly) but no one could ever say his poetry was not brilliant. I felt I could not let him go without reminding us all of this example. Ron June. 1944/2004 What follows is dedicated to all those young men that never came home. I am Sapper Guy lately of 246 Field Company Royal Engineers. An Assaulting unit of the Third British Infantry Division; Monty’s Ironsides. From the Fields of Normandy I bring back many memories. Beneath them. I leave many friends, For they are; Les Fleurs de Normandie. The Flowers of Normandy Les Fleurs de Normandie. On Norman soil, they fought and died. Now young men's graves in rows abound. In Mother Earth's arms, now sanctified, The fragrant flowers of our youth are found. And yet, to rise again, as in a distant song. Small voices that call, in dead of night. Fleeting figures only in our dreams belong. Alas, they fade, in dawn's bright light. I see them yet, a sad, forgotten throng. Shadowed, lost faces, marching on. Over dusty roads, and high golden corn. The call of long lost friends are borne. We must not forget, the flowers of our days, Lest they lay unquiet, in numbered graves. For we lived, and loved, and life was sweet. Still yet, for us, awaits our last retreat. Flowers of our youth, now long since past. Our sweet autumn days are fading fast. We, who are left, flowered in our prime. Enjoyed golden moments, on borrowed time. Remember our friends, who passed this way. For all our tomorrow's, they gave their today's, On Utah and Omaha, Juno, Sword and Gold. Oh! Dear Lord! See that they grow not old. Sapper Brian Guy. sapper, Mar 26, 2005
I'm out of the country at the minute and have just caught-up with this news on a Sapper page on Facebook. I am heartbroken at the news, Brian was such a interesting, fascinating and vital person and he enriched everywhere he laid his hat. His stories and his memoirs are such a great source of information and I for one will truly miss him. I had noticed that he had disappeared from Facebook round about the time he was trying to get Sheila into a care home where dhe could get the proper care for her vascular dementia. I had asumed he went with her which is why he went quiet. I do hope Sheila is being well cared for and I hope that Brian's family are finding some solace and strength in each other. Is there any information yet on the funeral arrangements?
Please accept my condolences. I spoke to him once when he politely declined an invitation to speak at an event. A charming and intelligence man who seems to have done much with his life despite his war wounds.
It wasn’t his age that stopped him posting, Harry, it was the piss taking by certain other members of the forum that led him to the decision to cease his contributions. They know who they are and you won’t find them posting on this thread; unless they are brazen. Brian was big enough not to make an issue of it. The world is a lesser place without people like him...
Brian/Sapper RIP To members of his family and friends please accept my heartfelt condolances for their very sad loss
