Sir Guy Gaunt | |
|---|---|
 Gaunt in 1912 | |
| Born | (1869-05-25)25 May 1869 Ballarat, Australia |
| Died | 18 May 1953(1953-05-18) (aged 83) Woking, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Admiral |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 daughters from second marriage |
| Parent(s) | William Henry Gaunt and his wife Elizabeth Mary |
| Relatives | Ernest Gaunt Mary Elizabeth Bakewell Gaunt |
| Awards | KCMGCB |
AdmiralSir Guy Reginald Archer Gaunt,KCMG, CB (25 May 1869 – 18 May 1953)[1] was an Australian-born officer of theRoyal Navy, counter-intelligence officer and a BritishConservative Party politician.
Gaunt was born inBallarat, Australia, to William Henry Gaunt and his wife Elizabeth Mary Palmer. Gaunt's brother-in-law wasAlexander Stenson Palmer (banker and M.P. for Victoria). Gaunt's brotherErnest Gaunt was also an admiral. Their sister,Mary Gaunt, was a well-known author in Australia and wrote several travel books. Guy was educated atMelbourne Grammar School from 1881 to 1883.[1]
Gaunt's parents wanted him to become a lawyer, but he chose to go to sea. He began training for themerchant navy, but transferred to theRoyal Navy in 1885, one of the "hungry hundred" merchant navy officers who were commissioned via the supplementary list.
Gaunt served as a lieutenant on several vessels in the Pacific Ocean and saw action in the Philippines in 1897 and Samoa in 1901. He was promoted to the rank ofCommander in 1901 and became acaptain in 1907, commanding a series ofcruisers and thebattleshipsHMS Majestic andHMS Thunderer.[1]
In 1914 Gaunt was appointednaval attaché to the United States,[1] and was instrumental in infiltrating theHindu–German Conspiracy during theFirst World War. Gaunt headed the intelligence network operated byCourtenay Bennett's intelligence and liaised with the Czech intelligence network operated byE. V. Voska. On learning of the plot from the Czech European network at the outbreak of the war, Voska passed on the information to Gaunt and toTomáš Masaryk who further passed on the information the American authorities.[2][3][4][5] Voska's American network was a counter-espionage network of nearly 80 members who, asHabsburg subjects, were presumed to be German supporters but were involved in spying on German and Austrian diplomats.
When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, Gaunt was appointed as liaison officer. In 1918 he served onconvoys across the Atlantic[6] and in June was appointed to the naval intelligence staff at the Admiralty.
Gaunt was promoted on the retired list to rear admiral in October 1918,[1] vice admiral in July 1924 andadmiral in February 1928. He was knighted asKCMG in 1918.
Gaunt first stood as a candidate for parliament at the 1918 general election. He was theLiberal candidate forLeek and despite receiving theCoalition Coupon, he was unable to hold the seat.[7] Gaunt was elected asUnionistMember of Parliament (MP) for theBuckrose constituency in theEast Riding of Yorkshire at the1922 general election, replacing the LiberalAlgernon Moreing.
Gaunt resigned from theHouse of Commons in 1926, when he was cited asco-respondent in the divorce case between SirRichard Cruise and his wife.
Gaunt married a widow, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Worthington (daughter of Sir Thomas Wardle) at Hong Kong in 1904.[1] She divorced him in 1927 following the scandal with Lady Cruise, and he retired toTangier. He later remarried on 1 December 1932 a 35-year-old widow, Sybil Victoria Joseph,née Grant White and had two daughters. He returned to live inCobham,Surrey and died atWoking Hospital on 18 May 1953 and was cremated.[1]
Gaunt's autobiography,The Yield of the Years, was published in 1940. His brotherErnest Gaunt was also an admiral in the Royal Navy; his sister,Mary Gaunt, was a novelist.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBuckrose 1922–1926 | Succeeded by |
| Background |  | |
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| Ghadar | ||
| Berlin Committee | ||
| Indian figures | ||
| German figures | ||
| Conspiracy | ||
| Counter-intelligence | ||
| Related topics | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
