Anthony Francis Gurney
Captain Anthony Francis Gurney, (5 August, 1864 – 30 August, 1909) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Norfolk, Gurney's service record has appointments that are very difficult to read.[1]
Gurney was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December, 1887. On 17 April 1888 he reported having injured his hand. It proved serious enough that he was not found fit before 25 June.[2]
On 20 August, 1892, he was reported unfit, diagnosed with a venereal disease. He was not found fit before 7 April, 1893. Three days later, he was appointed to the central battery ironclad Superb.[3]
Gurney was promoted to the rank of Commander in June, 1900.
Gurney was promoted to the rank of Captain in June, 1906.
Gurney's service record is torn and contains no clear and declarative mention of service after November, 1908 and before his death in late August 1909, but it clearly contains reference to fiduciary irregularities for which he was at least partly responsible: "... absconding of Asst Paymr A. A. E. Fluder & deficiency of Public Money. Severe displeasure expressed wi[th failure?] ... to exercise sufficient control over the demands for Public Money which was drawn in ex[cess ?] ... events & for failing to properly inspect the cash balances at the end of the month. Also ... liability to be called upon to make good the whole or part of the missing money."[4] This event seems to be that Fluder deserted from Gurney's command, the depot ship H.M.S. Assistance in August of 1907 "taking with him a large sum of public money." Fluder was removed from the Navy List in 1908.[5]
However, given the above, this reader casts a more probing glance at a faded notation under the record of his date of death and sees a notation which begins, "Shot himself..." This discovery prompted a search of The Times which uncovered his obituary, which outlines a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind." He had shot himself in a hotel room with a revolver, once in the forehead. Two letters to family members were found indicating that he intended to kill himself.[6]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Archibald P. Stoddart |
Captain of H.M.S. Bruizer 12 Dec, 1895[7] – 18 Aug, 1896 |
Succeeded by Arthur Halsey |
| Preceded by Richard M. Harbord |
Captain of H.M.S. Hasty 18 Aug, 1896[8][9] – 1 Mar, 1897[10] |
Succeeded by Sidney R. Olivier |
| Preceded by Edward D. Hunt |
Captain of H.M.S. Widgeon 1 Mar, 1897[11] |
Succeeded by Wyndham Forbes |
| Preceded by Robert H. Anstruther |
Captain of H.M.S. Hearty 30 Jun, 1904[12] |
Succeeded by Sutton Smith |
| Preceded by William C. Pakenham |
Captain of H.M.S. Barham 24 Jan, 1905[13] |
Succeeded by Murray F. Sueter |
| Preceded by Cecil E. Rooke |
Captain of H.M.S. Halcyon 5 Mar, 1906[14] – Jul, 1906[Inference] |
Succeeded by Edmund P. F. G. Grant |
| Preceded by Louis J. MacHutchin |
Captain of H.M.S. Assistance 10 Nov, 1906[15] – 14 Nov, 1908 |
Succeeded by William S. Bowman |
Footnotes
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ Fluder Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/171/131. f. 151.
- ↑ "Captain A. F. Gurney." The Times (London, England), Friday, Sep 03, 1909; pg. 9; Issue 39055.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 208.
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Friday, Jul 24, 1896; pg. 10; Issue 34951.
- ↑ Gurney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42/233. f. 274.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1900). p. 314.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1904). p. 324.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 282.
- ↑ The Navy List. (June, 1906). p. 322.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 280.
