| Surname: | Forbes-Bassett |
| Initials: | R G |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Army Number: | 169511 |
| Notes: | General List. Provost Officer in London District in 1941. Extract from the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 18/6/41. Shot Himself Minute Before Military Police Arrive. Second Lieut Peter Blake (21) of the Somerset Light Infantry, shot himself in the cloak room of a West End hotel last Sunday, a minute before the arrival of the Military Police who were looking for him. This was stated in Westminster in court today when the Coroner (Mr W Bentley Purchase)recorded a verdict that Blake took his own life while of unsound mind. Lieut R G Forbes Bassett, Military Police said that Blake who was not stationed in London had been the subject of enquiries. He had been absent from his unit, and his description had been circulated to all the main hotels in London. The Military Police eventually obtained information that Blake had arrived ina West London hotel on Saturday afternoon. Revolver In His Hand. Lieut Basset said that when he reached the hotel at 7.30 pm the manager said - "Hurry up, because his is sitting in the cloakroom with a revolver in his hand." "I went to the cloakroom but a minute before I arrived his shot himself. He was wearing Captains rank. This was not his real rank. He did not even hold acting rank. Blake continued Lieut Bassett had been issuing cheques which would have been no good had they been presented. In Blake's possession was found a note addressed to "Whoever it may Concern." The Coroner mentioned that this note disposed on Blake's property, and it seemed that when he went to the cloakroom he had the intention of taking his life. (No. 156290 2/Lt Peter Blake 2 Somerset Light Infantry who died on the 15 June 1941 was cremated and named on the Golders Green Crematorium memorial.) |
Provost Officer Appointments: | |
| No appointments recorded | |