Meet our Alumni

Guy Gaunt

Admiral Sir Guy Reginald Archer Gaunt KCMG, CB OM 1883

Naval Officer and Parliamentarian

Last updated: 2008

 

Admiral Sir Guy Gaunt was a respected Naval Officer, Military Attaché and Parliamentarian. After first training in the Merchant Navy, in 1886 Gaunt joined the Royal Navy Reserve as a midshipman and a decade later joined the Royal Navy.

While commanding the British Consulate in Apia, Samoa, he led a native force against a rebel attack and received mention in despatches. His troops were to become known as “Gaunt’s Brigade”. In 1907 Gaunt was promoted to Captain. He then commanded the cruisers HMS Andromeda, HMS Niobe and HMS Challenger and the battleships HMS Majestic and HMS Thunderer.

In the First World War he was a Naval Attaché in Washington, where he countered German propaganda. After the United States entered the war he served as a Liaison Officer. He was honoured as a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 1916.

Towards the end of the war Gaunt accompanied merchant convoys in the Atlantic and then joined Naval Intelligence. He was honoured as a Companion of the Order of the Bath and as a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Gaunt was elected to the House of Commons in the 1922 election and served as a Parliamentarian for four years. In 1928 he was promoted on the retired list to Admiral.

He lived in Morocco in his retirement and published his memoirs in the autobiography The Yield of the Years (1940).


Melbourne Grammar School marked its sesquicentenary in 2008. As part of the celebrations, a Talents Committed Exhibition was staged. This exhibition recognised 150 Old Melburnians who have made a difference to the City of Melbourne, the State of Victoria and the wider community in Australia and overseas.

The above profile was included in the Talents Committed Exhibition in 2008.