The son of the botanist John Firminger Duthie, he was born in British India at Saharanpur in June 1881.
[7] Duthie later made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Derbyshire at Southampton in the 1911 County Championship.
[10] He was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in January 1916,[11] while the following month he was decorated by France with the Legion of Honour, Chevalier class.
[13][14] In March 1917, he was made an acting lieutenant colonel whilst commanding a brigade of artillery,[15] relinquishing the rank the following month.
[17] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1921,[18] at which point he was serving in British India at the Artillery School at Quetta.