Birth, Marriage: Mary GUY.

As a child, Mary was kind and generous to her younger siblings. They called her 'Mares'. At Christmas she would encourage the younger ones to 'shadow dance' on the rug in front of the fire, and watch the shadows dance on the wall. The family attended the Walmer Baptist Church. When the war came, the family opted to stay together in Walmer. Mary left school when she was 14 (1939). She was a home help to elderly Mrs Betts from the church, and helped her father with office work at the garage.

When the War started Mary was called up into the women's Land Army, and went to work at Reach Court farm at St Margaret's Bay, an English village closest to France. She was given a uniform, work clothes and a bicycle. The farmer was responsible for most of the farms in the area, and Mary would cycle 5 to 10 miles to work each day. All this fresh air and exercise made her into a strong well-built girl with a healthy colour. Mary spoke of the Army, Air Force and Siege Regiment of the Royal Marines Commandos being at St Margaret's Bay, and being given rides in military vehicles. The buses didn't run when there was a Shell warning. Mary's account:
"In WWII I served in the Land Army at 'Hell fire corner', and under the War Agricultural Committee helped farm the evacuated land on 'the white cliffs of Dover' and surrounding areas. I recall it being exciting with the cross Channel guns firing at times, and shells exploding. There were also dog-fights in the skies above during the battle of Britain. A shell once dropped on the drill field opposite their home in Dela, and a bomb landed on the railway nearby, shattering windows and bringing the house's ceilings down.'

After the war Mary worked at a horticultural nursery in Walmer, and then went to work on an estate at Faversham (Earl Sonnes Farm?), and lived with old friends of her parents (Uncle Fred and Aunty Ivy). When she was 20, Mary suffered a mental breakdown, probably caused by her war experiences. (She told the story of being about to cross a field when a bomb landed in it, blowing the sheep to pieces, She still crossed the field.) She was taken into Atkinson Morley Hospital and there received electroconvulsive therapy. She came into her Christian faith at this time. She told how she received a letter from her mother at this time saying, 'I am praying for you, and you mist not forget to pray for yourself.' She did and was converted. She was healed immediately, was baptized at Walmer Baptist, became a Sunday School teacher, and started a young people's Christian Endeavour. She was turned down for missionary service and became a registered nurse after training at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. She then joined 'Ranyard Nurses' in London, and visited many of the poor homes in London.

While there she was involved in the Billy Graham crusades. At one of the churches she attended she met Fred Guy whom she married in 1955. They were blessed with two daughters. Mary was a very godly and spiritual person, praying for a whole host of Christian missions. She used to wake at 6 am every morning and woukld read her Bible and pray. Nothing was too much trouble for her. She would speak at ladies' meetings, sing solos, and sang in choirs. She is remembered as a wonderful mother and grandmother, and an excellent cook!

[Source: Mary GUY, and family tribute at funeral]