Lives of the First World War

In August 1914, William Guy left his signature on the wall of the Thunderbox Room (or gardeners' toilet) at Heligan, along with other staff who enlisted. He joined up as soon as he could, aged 18. He gave his life in the Spring Offensive and died 12-13 April 1918. His body was never found. His name appears on the Loos Memorial to the Missing and he is remembered in St Goran Church, Cornwall. The war service of The Gardeners of Heligan House is separately acknowledged in the Imperial War Museum’s register of war memorials. Visit www.ukniwm.org/63622 for further details. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, are still cultivated in the names of these past staff and are open daily except for Christmas Day.

William Robins Guy was born 1896, oldest of eight children. He lived in Gorran Haven, Cornwall with his parents John and Annie Louisa Guy. His youngest brother Philip reported he started work when he was 14 and had two part time jobs, one in the Vegetable Garden at Heligan. The 1911 census records him as a ‘Gardener Domestic’. He also loved music and wildlife. The war service of The Gardeners of Heligan House is separately acknowledged in the Imperial War Museum’s register of war memorials. Visit www.ukniwm.org/63622 for further details. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, are still cultivated in the names of these past staff and are open daily except for Christmas Day.

Wiliam Guy left his signature on the limeplaster walls of the Thunderbox Room at Heligan, along with other Heligan Men who served in the First World War. The war service of The Gardeners of Heligan House is separately acknowledged in the Imperial War Museum’s register of war memorials. Visit www.ukniwm.org/63622 for further details. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, are still cultivated in the names of these past staff and are open daily except for Christmas Day.