Lampard Inquiry: Second World War veteran 'saved many lives' before dying in Essex mental health services' care

Roland "Ron" Guy, a Second World War veteran from Dagenham, pictured with his wife
-Credit: (Image: The Lampard Inquiry)


An Essex Second World War veteran who fought the Nazis in Europe under the command of the creator of James Bond tragically died "before his time" as he "didn't get the proper care" from Essex mental health services. Roland "Ron" Guy served in the 30 Assault Unit under Ian Fleming, where he would save lives tracking down German military sites and identifying bombs on booby-trapped bodies

Ron "lived a full life" but tragically saw a decline in his mental health in his final years due to depression developed following his service in the war. The beloved grandad, from Dagenham, sadly died in 2006 after "starving himself" while an inpatient of Runwell Hospital.

Ron's death is now one of more than 2,000 between 2000 and 2023 within Essex mental health services being investigated by The Lampard Inquiry. At Chelmsford Civic Hall on Tuesday (September 24), a statement was read out from Margot Binns, Ron's daughter. Ms Binns told the inquiry that Ron trained in Scotland with the Royal Marines to become a commando for the invasion of France and Germany.

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He was recruited to the 30 Assault Unit, also known as No. 30 Commando, which operated between 1943 and 1946 under the command of Ian Fleming, primarily to gather intelligence on the German forces. This included identifying V1 and V2 rocket sites - long-range weaponry used by Nazi Germany - plus spotting booby-trap sites where mines would be attached to bodies. Ms Binns said Ron's actions "undoubtedly" saved many lives.

Ms Binns said that Ron met "the love of his life" while serving in France, who was the daughter of a woman working for the French Resistance who helped pass information to Allied forces. Ron would later marry her and together they had many children.

Ms Binns said: "During the D-Day landings, many of Ron’s comrades - who were like his brothers - were killed and many were seriously injured. They made their way through northern France. Our French grandma was later awarded certificates from American President Eisenhower for their involvement in the French resistance and hiding Allied pilots who landed. He married his wife in 1947.

"Once the war was over, Dad was sent to Hong Kong. He guarded Japanese inmates before their trial. He felt the true commanders of the war crimes avoided the death penalty because they were tried longer after the war. The lower foot soldiers received the worst penalties and the death penalty. He spoke of the injustices of these lower foot soldiers.

"It was not the invasion of France or the liberation of Germany that damaged Dad’s mental wellbeing. He met the love of his life in France. It was in Hong Kong where the damage was done. He signed up for 12 years but didn’t want to wait until 1954 to see our mum. He had to find another way to be discharged."

Ms Binns told the inquiry that her father "orchestrated" a stay in a mental health hospital in 1946 where he "fawned" a mental breakdown in order to be sent home. At the time, he regarded mental health as an "excuse".

He had a six-week journey via ship from Hong Kong in a room with no windows, occasionally being allowed on deck for some air, but he only went up once and hated how people looked and pointed at him.

Ms Binns said her father didn’t collect his campaign medals, as he "didn’t think he deserved them" and didn’t think he was a "hero". She continued: "Those who go through war don’t come out of the other side unscathed. He bore painful memories and buried them deep down.

Roland "Ron" Guy met his wife during the war in France
Roland "Ron" Guy met his wife during the war in France -Credit:The Lampard Inquiry

"He worked very hard over the next 50 years, not bad for someone with depression. He had a temper but he was however very kind and a caring person. He gave his labour and time for free to install heating for neighbours. He was sociable and friendly."

Ms Binns said when her father began to deteriorate mentally, he was placed under the care of Essex Mental Health Services with a doctor prescribing him antidepressants. She continued: "This was his only approach, no offer of counselling or getting to the bottom of what the problem was. The doctor was no expert in mental health, he was a General Practitioner. We felt that was a neglectful approach. He was let down and the appropriate help was not given. The visit to the doctor was the catalyst."

Ms Binns said Ron would have “mountainous” highs and “extreme” lows. After taking antidepressants he had a high that was "scary". She said: "It was a lot of making lewd jokes that we found deeply uncomfortable. He would spend hundreds of pounds at a time on gifts. We considered getting power of attorney to stop him from spending money he worked so hard to earn.

"It was embarrassing to be near him. His whole demeanour was manic. He stayed up all night composing emails to MPs. We didn’t recognise this person, we can’t relate to him at all. Anger and frustration oozes from him, like an angry gorilla. There’s so much he wants to say but can’t verbalise anymore."

Ms Binns said her father could manage "a few stunted grunts" and it was as though he "descended into hell" through an "extreme pattern of suffering". She said it continued for 12 years until he dehydrated and starved himself to death while under the care of Essex Mental Health Services.

She added: "He was regularly sectioned during the depressive phases and taken to Runwell hospital. Each time he was there we were pressured into giving our consent to Electroconvulsive therapy. We knew dad would not want it. The suffering began in 1994 and ended with his death in 2006. We hate the fact that he died without the right help. Our dad lived a full life, many did not get this. He was taken long before his time."