Background
Guy Edward Ruggles-Brise born in 1914 the second son of Sir Edward Archibald Ruggles-Brise, Military Cross, Territorial Decoration, Justice of the Peace, Doctor of Laws.
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Guy Edward Ruggles-Brise
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He came from a landed family who had lived at Spains Hall, Finchingfield, Essex, since the 18th century. The original house can be traced to the Domesday survey. As a Captain he departed with Number 7 Commando for North Africa, where he was captured during the raid on Bardia in 1941, handed over to the Italians and transferred to Naples by ship.
As a prisoner of war he was held at camp PG35 at Padula near Salerno from May 1942 until June 1943.
The castle held some the highest ranking British and Commonwealth officers captured in World World War II many during the campaigns in North Africa. He was amongst the small party including some NCO’s released by General Chiapati in September 1943.
They were driven to Firenze Campo di Marte railway station from where a special train took them to Arezzo. The party eventually dispersed and spent many months with the partisans in the Apennines.
He together with Rudolph Vaughan, John Combe (John Frederick Boyce Combe),Ted Todhunter Edward Joseph Todhunter, and Dan Ranfurly from Vincigliata and two others they had picked up along the way managed to reached the coast and put out to sea in a boat, which began to leak badly.
After rowing and bailing for 24 hours they were at last picked up by an Italian vessel which landed them at Ancona, from where they were shipped to brigade Headquarters on May 30, 1944. Lady Ranfurly, featured this incident in her book of memoirs, To War with Whittaker. He later bought an estate in Achnasheen, Scotland where he enjoyed the country life and deer stalking.
He died at the age of 86.
Membership
After the war he became a member of the London Stock Exchange, a senior partner with Wontner, Dolphin & Francis, and a consultant with Brewin Dolphin & Company He was High Sheriff of Essex 1967-1968 and Vice-Chairman of Riding for Disabled Trust.
