Lives of the First World War

known 27th July 1918

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 27 July 1918 NAVAL OFFICER'S SUICIDE. SAD END TO A NEW CAREER. DISCOVERY AT HASTINGS RAILWAY STATION. An inquest was held at on Wednesday evening into the circumstances attending the death of James Burnett, a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. Mr. William M. Dyball, O.B.E., District Superintendent of the L.B. and S.C.R. represented the Railway Company. Stanley Henry Burnett, Wallingford, a Postal Censor, said deceased was his brother, lived at Pevensey, and was a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R.. He was a retired member of a shipping firm. He joined the R.N.V.R. on Saturday week. He was 47 years of age. His health had been bad since the war from sciatica and other complaints. His nerves were in a very bad state, and he was worried about his foreign securities which had depreciated very much. He had been graded 3 for the Army and the Medical Officer at the examination had said "Shall I reject you or grade you as 3. You may be able to do some work for your Country". He had done war work at Pevensey and Eastbourne, but had to give it up because of his health. That worried him very much. Witness last saw deceased alive last Thursday week in London, when he showed witness a letter granting him a commission. His only fear was that he would not be able to do his work as he had left shipping affairs for so long. He was a bit depressed lest he should not be able to do his work thoroughly. On Thursday morning witness went to Westham on hearing of his brother's death, and saw Mrs. Burnett. The death was a great shock to her, and she was unable to be present at the inquest. Deceased had been stationed at Portsmouth. He had come home to Pevensey last Saturday to lunch and had to go back on Sunday morning. He spoke to his wife about an examination he had to pass, and was afraid he would fail, as he did not seem able to grasp it. He feared that failure would mean losing his commission. Otherwise he seemed alright. He left on Sunday morning to catch the 9.42 train to go to Portsmouth and was going to stay a few hours in Brighton en-route. He said nothing to his wife to cause her unease and had not threatened to take his life. She knew he had a revolver and it was still in the house. He also had another revolver, a pin-fire Gendarme revolver, which he had in France and it was kept in a box (produced). He was not in the habit of carrying a revolver. The only motive for taking his life was due to the state of his health and depression. He was of a highly nervous disposition. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane".

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