Many of you will have heard of John (DSO, MC and 2 bars) He served mostly with 65 Squadron flying camels and was credited with 39 victories.

What has been unknown is what happened to him after the war.

While researching 65 Squadron it is with regret that I found out that he committed suicide by cyanide poison on 24th Feb 1928 at 26 St James Street London. He was listed as having independant means but having an unsound mind.

Terribly sad end to a brave man.

Simon

Simon

As you say, a very sad end for a courageous man.

RIP

Gareth

Very sad, I wonder ow much of his troubled mind was war related. May he now Rest In Peace.

Am planning to find out - have applied for the Coroners report.
Simon

I found an intriguing entry in the Flight Global database for the 25th December 1919 issue:

The notification in the Gazette of Aug. 1, appointing Capt. J. Gilmour, D.S.O., M.C. (A.), to a permanent commn. is cancelled.

I wonder if that had anything to do with his state of mind - or vice versa.

Either way, it was a very sad ending for a brave man who had survived so much during the war.

Steve

Hello Steve.

This is interesting because I have a copy of newpaper article from San Francisco of all places dated Wednesday 18th Feb 1920. Gilmour (complete with picture in uniform) is giving comments on the need for an American Air Ministry.

Would anyone know why he was doing such a thing after this commision had apparently been cancelled?

Simon

As far as I was aware, the "unsound mind" listing on a suicide death certificate is either a legality regarding burial or at the very least an etiquette thing. I've never seen one without that stated.

Up until the late C18th suicide was a criminal offence. In Canon Law - that governing the church - it was the position that a suicide could not have a christian burial or be buried in consecrated ground (these days most clergy turn a blind eye as do the church authorities although I am unsure if the law still exists). This verdict got round the prohibition.

In military terms it was a crime even at this time, whatever films and literature may have us believe it was seen as cowadice and the act of a cad or a bounder. It was also a case that all medals would be forfeited, (except the VC from 1920 by order of the then King George V), and a military funeral denied. Once again this verdict got around this.

These days the verdict whilst of unsound mind is a historic one and designed to spare the relatives feelings.

I am a Funeral Director and willing to try and answer any questions like this.