The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:27 pm Post subject: Suicides of serving soldiers

Always a delicate subject, suicides of serving or ex soldiers is one that perhaps deserves reflection. I would not like to suggest (or deny) that those men should be listed on memorials but I can imagine that some may feel that a soldier who takes his own life whilst (if) suffering from PTSD should be included.

This article http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/local-news-dumfries/local-news-dumfriesshire/2012/04/11/mother-of-dumfries-soldier-who-killed-himself-wants-to-see-more-done-to-help-troops-51311-30732619/ highlights the death by suicide after returning from Afghanistan of James Lindsay from Dumfries and Aaron Black from Blairgowrie.

For myself, I will spare a thought next Remembrance Day for how war affects people in different ways.

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:47 pm Post subject:

There is no doubt in my mind that a man on a memorial in the Highlands committed suicide at home over two years after the armistice but was commemorated as a victim of the war alongside his comrades who were killed in action. I am sure he is not unique.

Adam

DelBoy · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:48 am Post subject:

Not unique from my research. They are all casualties of their experience.

When I heard from a former Marine that it is the case more veterans of the Falklands War had died from their own hands than were killed in the conflict, I was astounded.

Derek.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

This is almost a research subject of its own. Off the top of my head the body of Charles Ashworth, who was being treated in Murthly asylum, was found drowned in the Tay near Kinclaven and buried there. Hoy Whitelaw, buried at Blairgowrie, was found shot (self inflicted) in a field on Essendy Road. William Martin who was in a Dundee hospital drowned in Dundee Docks. Duncan Blair on Callander WM was found hanged in local woods. There was also a Donald Allan from up North who poisoned himself.
I wonder if the figures of such instances have been greater after modern conflicts ?

geoffdundee · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 2

[quote="dhubthaigh"]This is almost a research subject of its own. Off the top of my head the body of Charles Ashworth, who was being treated in Murthly asylum, was found drowned in the Tay near Kinclaven and buried there. Hoy Whitelaw, buried at Blairgowrie, was found shot (self inflicted) in a field on Essendy Road. William Martin who was in a Dundee hospital drowned in Dundee Docks. Duncan Blair on Callander WM was found hanged in local woods. There was also a Donald Allan from up North who poisoned himself.
I wonder if the figures of such instances have been greater after modern conflicts ?[/quote]
..................................................................................

info i found on the net states the following regards HOY WHITELAW.....

"his death cert. which stated he was found in the garden of a house in the town with a gunshot wound to his head"
..................................................................................

i have been searching my family tree and distant relatives of mine are the HOY family..... can anyone please tell me if HOY WHITELAW is buried in the cemetery in perth road blairgowrie?.........my great great grandmother (MARGARET HOY - her maiden name) was a sister of SUSAN HOY < mother of HOY WHITELAW....susan was married to JAMES WHITELAW......story passed down through family says he "accidentaly" died in the garden of a friend he had in Blairgowrie.......unfortunately i do not know if he was on leave from army service or was yet to go to fight in the war.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:16 pm Post subject:

Hoy Whitelaw is buried in Blairgowrie Cemetery on Perth Road. I believe he was about to go on active service when he died. There is a report of the incident in the Blairgowrie Advertiser of the time but unfortunately I have not photocopied/transcribed that as yet.

Mark

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

geoffdundee · Joined: 23 Mar 2013 Posts: 2

thanks Mark and Jim for responding ...... much appreciated.

Geoff