Lives of the First World War

Around 11 pm on 27 November 1917, an Australian Acting Corporal Lewis Gun instructor at Sutton Veny Camp reported to the Camp's Sergeant of the Guard that his room mate, fellow Australian Lewis Gun instructor (Acting) Corporal Joseph Harold Durkin had shot himself. This community respectfully remembers Corporal Durkin and tells the tale of his room mate Verney Asser (possibly alias James Nugent), the army witnesses called at the Coroner's Court hearing into Corporal Durkin's death that returned a verdict of suicide, the Police Sergeant whose suspicions of foul play brought Asser to trial at Wilts Assizes, and (if I can trace his record) Corporal Milne in charge of Sutton Veny Camp's musketry store whose evidence was instrumental in convicting Asser of murder. As the sad tale unfolded, Asser was demoted to Private for lying to his Commanding Officer. He was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to be hanged. He appealed, offering a defence of insanity. His appeal was dismissed and he was hanged at Shepton Mallet Prison.

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