Malcolm's Story.
Malcolm Guthrie was born on 16th September 1884 in Tranmere to parents William, a master mariner, and Anne (nee Milne).In 1891, Malcolm lived with his mother Anne, sisters Florence and Nora and brother Charles at 4 Marlborough Grove, Birkenhead. Given his father’s profession as a mariner, it’s likely he was away at sea.
His father died at home in 1892 after falling ill on a voyage overseas. His wife Anne was unable to be with him when he passed away as she had just given birth days earlier to their daughter, Dorothy. More tragedy was to befall the family as Malcolm’s mother Anne died less than a month later.
As the 1901 census showed Malcolm and his siblings lived with their maternal grandfather John Milne, a retired dock-master, at 31, Hampden Street, Tranmere. However, John Milne died in May of that year.
The 1911 census revealed that Malcolm lived with his uncle, Robert Milne, a bookkeeper with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, at 31, Hampden Road, Tranmere. With them are Malcolm’s brother Charles and sister Dorothy. Malcolm worked as an insurance clerk.
On the 31st August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Malcolm enlisted in the Army, he was posted to the 17th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, one of the ‘Pals’ battalions. After a period of training in England he arrived in France on 7th November, 1915. In early January 1916 the battalion was based on the Somme and in the lines by the village of Maricourt.
On the 12th January Malcolm received wounds to his abdomen, back, head and right hand as a result of shell fire. He was admitted to the 95th Field Ambulance and then on to 21st Casualty Clearance Station. Private Malcolm Guthrie died of his wounds at 6.00 am on the 14th January 1916. He was buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. J. M. F. Walker, attached to that Clearing Station.
As well as the Birkenhead War Memorial, Private Malcom Guthrie is also remembered on the war memorial in Liverpool Town Hall, the Birkenhead Institute War Memorial and the Tranmere Methodist Church War Memorial.
Research by Chris Booth