Date of birth:

August 31st, 1874 (Denny/Stirling Scotland)

Date of death:

1941

Nationality:

British

John Craig Guthrie served as a lieutenant in the British Army in South Africa during the Second Boer War. He returned to Britain in 1909 and was promoted to captain shortly before his retirement in 1914. As far as is known, he was not called up (again) during World War I.

Known Information:
John was born 31 August 1874 in Denny, Stirling, Scotland, his parents were John Drummond Guthrie and Sarah Guthrie (nee Craig).

The Scotland Census of 1881 shows his parents John Drummond Guthrie and Sarah Guthrie residing at East Borland, Comely Bank, Denny, Stirling with his three siblings James aged 7, Robert Drummond aged 4, and Mary aged 2. By the Scottish Census of 1891 his mother is a widow residing at 52 Upper Bridge Street, Denny, Stirling with children James aged 17 and Mary aged 12. John attended The University of Edinburgh and awarded MA (1900) studying as Law apprentice. He joins the Imperial Yeomanry on 18 January 1900 in Cupar law student with A. J. Jenkins & sons for 5 years, has been a member of Fife Light Horse for 4 years. Regimental no. 9215, 20th Company, Imperial Yeomanry.

Home 18.1.00 to 28.2.1900; posted South Africa 28.2.1900
Commissioned 26 May 1900 2/Lt., RGA
Army List October 1902, page 1437,
Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery, 3 January 1902

Listed on 20th Company, Imperial Yeomanry Roll QSA OFS, Trans, CC issued Officer RGA 15th (S.T.) Company, RGA (Officers attached) [WO 100/122 fo 297] Cupar, Fife 31 July 1901.
Listed 15th (ST) Company Western Division RGA Roll QSA OFS, Trans, CC (Officers attached) [WO 100/122 fo 297] Fort Klapper Kop, Pretoria 26 June 1901.
Listed on Depot Division RFA (young officers RGA on a course) KSA both clasps. [WO 100/308 fo 257] Woolwich 5 Nov 1902.
Army List October 1912, page 1073a Lieutenant 3 January 1902; Employed with West Africa Frontier Force, 26 October 1907 to 15 March 1909.

When John returned from West Africa in March 1909 met Evelyn Mary Smart, who came from Edinburgh and whose father was a writer and when he died in 1892 left his wife £1,113-14-3. Their relationship produced a son John Craig Drummond born about October 1910, in St. Pancras, London and by the Census in 1911 John was a Lieutenant, stationed at Sheerness, Kent with 19 Company RGA. And Evelyn was shown on the 1911 Census as a visitor at William and Alice Godfreys house at 4 Brunswick Villas, Station Road, Herne Bay, Kent along with John Craig Drummond who was 4 months old. In May 1913 John was promoted Captain and on 14 January 1914 retired on half pay from the Army. And their second son was born Herbert Grant on 19 January 1914 in Lambeth. When World War One started John was aged 40, but he appears not to have been recalled. In April 1915 John married Evelyn Mary Smart in April 1915 at St. Martin, London and in January 1916 Neil Drummond third son was born.

Two sons served in the RAF during World War II. John Craig Drummond Guthrie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and later the Airforce Cross. Neil Drummond Guthrie, 10 Squadron RAF, took off May 8, 1942 from RAF Leeming in a Halifax II W7674, did not return from an operational flight over enemy territory (Germany), May 9, 1942.

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