PRIVATE'S DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 293, 10 December 1943, Page 6

PRIVATE'S DEATH

DISCHARGE DELAYED

CORONER'S STRONG COMMENT

"This unfortunate soldier might have been alive to-da5 r if the psychiatrist's recommendation had been given effect to by the Army authorities," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, city coroner, to-day, when he concluded the inquest concerning the death of Private Bryan Sharp, aged 42, a patient at Raventhorpe Convalescent Depot, Bombay, who went missing from the depot on Friday, November 5, and on November 14, was found shot, in the bush about three-quarters of a mile away from the military institution. A .303 service rifle was found alongside his body. Private Sharp had returned from a Pacific base for treatment.

The coroner commented adversely that although Private Sharp was in the Auckland Hospital in August and that a psychiatrist, on August 11, recommended that Sharp should be boarded out of the Army for return to civilian life, this information was not made available to the medical officer in charge at Raventhorpe when Sharp was admitted there on October S.

Sergeant Willis Brown appeared for the police, and Flight-Lieutenant A. G. Lowe represented Private Sharp's next-of-kin, his mother.

A Doctor's Complaints

When the coroner opened the inquest at Bombay on November 15, Dr. James A. Paterson, commanding officer in charge of Raventhorpe Convalescent Depot, gave evidence and said Private Sharp was admitted there on October S suffering from anxiety neurosis. He was slightly sub-normal mentally and apparently depressed although he did not suggest suicidal tendencies. He "was found absent on November 5, and on November 14 his body with a bullet wound in it, was found in the bush near the depot. Witness said he knew nothing of Private Sharp's personal history or of his examination by a psychiatrist.

"Had I known of a recommendation by Dr. Short that he should be immediately discharged I would have taken steps at once to see that he was discharged." added Dr. Pater-

son. "I have complained before at the delay which takes place in the receipt of a soldier's personal file and case history sheet."

Lieutenant E. J. Marshall, medical officer attached to the Second N.Z.E.F. and now at Raventhorpe, gave progress reports on Sharp's medical case at subsequent examinations after witness first examined him at the Drill Hall on October 7. As Sharp was an overseas man his personal file was in Wellington and it was not obtainable.

Mr. Hunt: But that is quite wrong. You should have had all the information. He should have been out of uniform and you should have known about the whole matter?—l agree, sir.

Mr. Hunt: What steps are being taken now to see that reports from doctors are sent to you?—l cannot demand them at all.

Witness said Private Sharp had been sent to Ravensthorpe at his own request. He could have gone out of the Army at any time. Witness considered the environment at Ravensthorpe was ideal for such a patient as Sharp as his depression was continually being relieved by occupational therapy and diet, but ultimately it became too much for i him.

Captain S. N. S. Crump, adjutant at Ravensthorpe, said he could not account for Sharp having a rifle as none was kept at the s depot.

Records In Wellington

A certificate forwarded by Dr. Gilberd, Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital to the Sick and Wounded Office at Area 1, was produced. Tnis set out that Private Sharp was admitted, to Auckland Hospital on August 23 as a case of early melancholia. On September 11 Dr. T. Gordon Short, psychiatrist, recommended that Sharp should be boarded out of the army as soon as possible, and that iie should return to civil life and occupation. Sharp was discharged on September 12, and in accordance with routine practice a complete copy of the case notes was forwarded to the Sick and Wounded Office, Area 1, immediately after the patient's discharge. Staff-Sergeant H. E. G. Matthews, of the Sick and Wounded Office, said that immediately, following receipt of Dr. Gilberd's certificate a medical board was arranged and carried out on September 17, resulting in Sharp being graded IV., and recommended for return to civil life. This finding was confirmed by the Regional Deputy on September 29. Immediately Sharp's personal file and medical board papers were forwarded to Army Headquarters, Wellington, relative to his discharge. These were issued by Wellington on October 24. When Sharp went to Ravensthorpe his personal file was in Wellington. Consequently the hospital report and medical board's report were not available at Ravensthorpe to the doctors. Mr. Hunt: Well, they should have been. It is most important. A copy should be sent to the doctor in charge when the patient is admitted. The object of this inquest is to try to prevent a recurrence of this sort of thing.

A military officer interposed to state that the original was always sent to Wellington, so that there would be no delay in granting the soldier's discharge and pension. No copies were kept in Auckland. Mr. Hunt: I repeat that the doctors at Raventhorpe should have had all the reports. In future duplicate reports should be kept here and one sent to the doctors when a soldier patient is admitted. The officer said he would see that in future such reports were made available.

The coroner then returned a verdict that Private Sharp committed suicide by shooting himself while of infirm mind.