GUTHRIE, Albert John

Albert John Guthrie enlisted in Melbourne on 26 January, 1914. He was one of four brothers, all of whom volunteered and enlisted just nine days after his brother, Henry David Guthrie, had enlisted in Perth. The brothers were the sons of David Guthrie, a tobacconist, and his wife, Eliza Ann, nee Harvey. Bert Guthrie was 24 years old, single and a carpenter by trade, living at 54 Powlett Street, East Melbourne. He described himself as 5' 8" tall, with 'straight fair hair', blue eyes and a fair complexion. Henry was 28, a clerk and living at home at 722 Hay Street, Perth. Both named their father as next of kin. Both had had previous military service with the different Light Horse units in Perth. Bert Guthrie was placed as a Sapper with the 2nd Field Company Engineers, while Henry joined A Compnay, 11th Battalion.

Bert Guthrie left Melbourne with the first convoy of sixteen ships, on the largest one, HMAT Orvieto A3. The Orvieto left Station Pier on 20 October, 1914, for Albany, Western Australia, where they met the rest of the fleet. Henry left on HMAT Ascanius A11 on 2/11/1914. They probably met at Albany and again at the end of the voyage, in Egypt, where they had four months of intensive training. 

Both were involved in the landing at Gallipoli, Henry, with the 11th Battalion, in the fight at Anzac Cove. Bert's experience was equally harrowing. The war diary of the 2nd Field Company Engineers tells his story: