William Guthrie was the son of Sir John Salmond, of Wellington, New Zealand.

Transferred from North Somerset Yeomanry in England November 1916.

At the time of his death, Salmond was an Assistant Adjutant in the Wellington Regiment.

"On 9th July, at about 11 o'clock in the morning, Lieutenants W.G. Salmond and L.W.G. Grace and Pte C.J. Dallard of the 1st Battalion were exploring Rossignol Wood, when they were attacked with bombs from the enemy in one of the pill boxes among the trees. Both officers were severely wounded and Dallard slightly. Dallard carried Grace some sixty yards back to safety and then returned to rescue Salmond who was lying within fifteen yards of the enemy post. He was greeted by a further shower of bombs, and was himself again wounded in three places. When he got close to him, he could see that Salmond was already dead." The Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F., 1914-1919, p264 AWMM