AUTHOR’S SUICIDE

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 6

AUTHOR’S SUICIDE

WROTE NOTABLE WAR BOOK Author of a notable war booh, ‘ Pass Guard-at Ypres,’ the chief figure of which was a war-weary hero who longed to commit suicide, Mr Stanley Ronald Kershaw Gurner, headmaster of Whitgift Grammar School, Croydon, was found dead. It is believed that death was due to poisoning. He was 49. Tho tragedy took place in a bedroom in a block of service chambers in Sus-sex-gardens, Paddington, W. A bottle lay near the bed. On Tuesday night Mr Gurner failed to return to his home in Beechwood road, Sanderstead, Surrey. At' the service chambers where he died, it was stated: “ Mr Gurner came here on Tuesday night and booked a room on the third lloor for a week.” Mr Gurner had been headmaster of Whitgift School, one of tho biggest public schools in the country, since 1928, and before that had been head of the Strand School, Tulse Hill, 192026, and the King Edward VII. School, Sheffield, 1926-27. It is understood that his salary was £I,BOO a year. He was one of the protagonists of the public day school system. Ho served throughout the war, during which he was wounded, awarded the M.C., and mentioned in despatches, and for two years was with the Rifle Brigade at Ypros and Arras. He published ‘ Pass Guard at Ypres ’ in 1930. The book was described as “ a constructive answer to the ultra-pessi-mistio type of war book,” and claimed to show that “ through war’s agency some spiritual lessons of fundamental value may be learned.” The hero, Freddy Mann, went to the war full of ideals', but his experience stripped him of his ideals, his friends, and his faith in life.

interviewed after its publication, Mr Garner said he could not think of anything in the book which had not a foundation in fact. The book was based on his own experiences at Yprcs and Arras. Ho was the author of a number of other works, A verdict of suicide was recorded at the inquest. Mrs Rosalie Leila Gurner. giving evidence at the inquest, said that her husband bad been continuously troubled by war wounds. A few years ago ho

had such a pain that he could not sleep, and recently he' had again been restless. At times he appeared depressed. The deputy-coroner (Mr W. 11. H. Heddy) ; Did you know anything about his financial affairs?—No; ho did not confide in me. Sometimes 1 think that he was worried, but 1 "’as afraid always to press anything in case I upset him. Mrs Gurucr identified a note in her husband’s handwriting, and Mr Heddy said in it ho told his wife that hq was in very difficult financial circumstances. “ I have been in the hands of moneylenders since 1930,” it stated. “It was impossible to tell you. 1 struggled to get straight, but it is the old story.” Mr Heddy continued: “The upshot of it all appears to be that he feels his financial position is so complicated that the only thing to do is, as he expresses it, ‘to go away for a time.’ ” Mrs Corner said that on Sunday her husband had spoken to her mother, and she (Mrs Gurncr) insisted that ho should toll her something.

“I wanted an explanation,” she added. “ and I think that ho felt it was too much for him.”

Mr Heddy ; You think it proved too much for liis mind at the llmo, and he just left homo?—Yes. Mr John Cummings, assistant master at Whitgift School, stated that Mr Gurner’s position there was, entirely secure.

Mr Heddy recorded a verdict that Mr Gurncr died from shock from disinfectant poisoning, self-administered, and that he took his life when not of sound mind.