Source 2b - Realities of War - Leaving it all Behind

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Source 2b - Despair and suicide, August 1916

Some servicemen, driven to breaking point, only went as far as wounding themselves to escape the Front, but sadly others took more drastic action.

In December 1915, a 29 year-old law clerk from East Lothian enlisted in the army. He sailed for France on 14 July 1916 with a Royal Scots battalion. Six weeks later, on 29 August, he shot himself at the Western Front before he was due to join the Scottish Rifles. The War Office listed him as ‘killed in action (self-inflicted)’. This is an extract taken from the note he left behind.

Transcript

'… I have shot myself as I cannot stand the hardship and suffering of this life any longer, and there is no chance of getting home again to see my parents whom may God bless and comfort in their trouble. Mr Clarkson and Mr Collins are two fine officers and I hope they will come through this war safe and sound. Any of my pals can have what they wish of my things here.

Goodbye and good luck to everyone.'

NAS: SC70/8/418/2

Activities

Duty of care
During the First World War, many soldiers were reported as suffering from ‘shell shock’. Today we hear references to servicemen returning home suffering from ‘Gulf-war syndrome’ or ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’.

Group discussion topic
Does society have a moral responsibility and duty of care towards the physical, financial, emotional and psychological wellbeing of servicemen and their families or is this just part of the job?

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