GUTHRIE, Robert Edmund
| Service Number: | 406649 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Operational Training Units (RAF) |
| Born: | Claremont, Western Australia, 23 February 1913 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Perth Modern School, WA, 1928-29, Claremont Teachers College, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Teacher |
| Died: | Shot down over Cologne by Luftwaffe 7th Flak Division, Germany, 1 August 1942, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany 1.G.6 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board, West Leederville Town Hall HB1 |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 406649, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 406649 | |
| 4 Mar 1941: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 406649, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 1 Aug 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 406649, Operational Training Units (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Killed in Action Flying an operational Sortie in 14 Operational Training Unit |
Help us honour Robert Edmund Guthrie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Ed was the third of four children of James Alexander Long Guthrie (born 1882 in Donegal, Ireland) and Mary Elizabeth Smythe (born 1887 in Fremantle, WA). James arrived in Fremantle in December 1903 on board the Ophir, and was a Ward Attendant at the Whitby Asylum in 1907 when he and Mary married in Fremantle. The couple settled in Claremont and in 1909 James transferred to the new Mental Asylum at Claremont. He bacame Farm Manager there in 1929 and over the years won many awards at the Royal Show for the Illawarra Short Horn cattle raised on the farm (Fremantle Welcome Wall: Panel No 347).
Ed attended Graylands Primary School, Claremont High School, Perth Modern and Claremont Teachers' College and taught in one-teacher schools in country WA. In 1938 he married Irene Victoria Flegg (born 1915 in Perth, WA) - Irene was a Clerk.
In March 1941 Ed enlisted in the RAAF (Service No:406649), training with 12 Empire Training Scheme. He received his wings in September and travelled to the UK where he joined 14 Operational Training Unit Cottesmore Rutland (RAF) as a Flying Officer. Ed was listed as 'Missing presumed dead' when his aircraft (Handley Page Hampden P5322) failed to return from an operation over Germany on 1 August 1942. Three crew (including Ed) were killed and one taken PoW (from Family Biography provided for dedication of Plaque No:M218) at Honour Ave, Kings Park on 18 August 2012).
Ed's plaque (No:M218) is placed alongside that of his younger brother Lance Corporal Hugh Kitchener Guthrie. Brother William (Bill) James (Corporal; Service No:427643) and Brother-in-Law Albert Jack Barnett (Flying Officer; Sevice No:80625) also served in WWII.
Irene moved to NSW and remarried, She died in 2007.
Click images to start slideshow.