Rejection of a marriage proposal led to Flight Lieut C.V.A. Bucknall – from Ventnor – to shoot himself on 5th September 1923.
At the inquest, witness Thomas Chapman said that 31-year-old Bucknall had conceived an affection for his daughter, Grace Chapman, while she had been staying on the Isle of Wight. He had proposed marriage and been rejected.
Mr Chapman said that while had been at home with his wife and daughter in Kensington on the afternoon of 5th September, Mr Bucknall called at his house.
Mr Bucknall told him: “I am ordered to Mesopotamia (Iraq). I have just come to say goodbye.”
The father then left Bucknall in the room with his daughter Grace.
Mr Chapman further told the inquest:
“While I was dressing, I heard a shot. I rushed back to the room immediately, and found Mr Bucknall in a state of collapse on the settee. My daughter was standing over him.”
“A pistol was lying at the dead man’s feet.”
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A heavily veiled Grace Chapman – dressed in deep mourning – informed the inquest:
“While I was staying at the Isle of Wight, I had a proposal of marriage from Mr Bucknall, but declined him because I had not known him long enough. He seemed very depressed.
“I did not notice anything unusual about him on the visit of 5th September. He seemed more cheerful.
“He told me he was going away and wished to say good-bye. I went to light the fire. The next moment, I heard a shot.
“I saw Mr Bucknall stagger and rushed towards him, assisting him till my father came.”
The Police found a letter on the dead man addressed to his mother.
The letter read:
“I have decided I can bear this world no longer, so I am going to the next, whatever that may be.
“The war killed me really. I have never been happy since. I feel happy at the prospect of relief from the hellish torture I am enduring. I cannot sleep, and my nights are long agony.
“It’s no one’s fault but my own.”
The inquest heard evidence from Mr Bucknall’s brother that he had been shot down and taken prisoner during the war and had subsequently had a serious crash while stationed in India.
The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind.
The coroner told the inquest:
“Intense disappointment, especially that arising from unrequited love, produced in certain cases loss of self-control, and if there was the least proneness to self-destruction, it was only too likely in such cases to assert itself.
“When this unfortunate young man realised that his suit was hopeless it was the last blow, so to speak, to his nervous and mental system, which was already enfeebled.
“The manner in which Mr Bucknall took his life has placed the lady who was the object of his affection in a painful position.
“I can only tender to her and to the relatives my deep and respectful sympathy.”
Flight Lieutenant Bucknall’s funeral was held at Bonchurch Church. His coffin was draped in the Union Jack and borne by 6 officers of the Royal Flying Corps.
Isle of Wight Mercury September 1923
Very sad.
His name should be on the War Memorial – it was the Great War that directly led to his death. (And many others)
Very moving tale and a sad loss then of a useful but sensitive man and an awful thing for the girl to endure forever.. imagine it happening now, the woke society would be claiming every benefit going for ‘mental health’
Now it is only criminals who carry guns and vile people rarely take their own lives
Well done and thank you IE for bringing us different local historical stories that we would not know about otherwise.