FAITHFUL beyond death, the black spaniel was found lying between the bodies of its master and mistress 45 hours after they died from shotgun wounds.
The tragic end of the lives of Sir William James Reid and his wife, Lady Beatrice Marion Reid, three months after the start of the Second World War on November 21, 1939, were described in full in the Post’s forerunner, The Hants and Sussex News, in its edition of November 29.
Reports of the inquest, the couple’s funerals and a biography of Sir William occupied nearly half of the back page of the newspaper.
It opened: “We deeply regret to report one of the most painful and shocking tragic events that have happened in this neighbourhood for some time.”
The couple – and their dog – had been found in Kell’s Copse on the Rogate Estate by Sir Percy Wyndham’s gamekeeper, James Hall, of Canada Cottage, Rogate, who had been one of the friends and neighbours searching for them after being alerted by their housekeeper.
The newspaper reporter said the discovery “naturally caused a great sensation and deep regret among all who had known Sir William and Lady Reid during the 12 years or so they had been residents at Durford Wood since his retirement from the Indian Civil Service after many years of distinguished service”.
As was often the case at that time, the inquest was held in the home of the victims just two days after the bodies were found and followed in the afternoon by a funeral and burials at St Luke’s Church, Milland.
Chichester division coroner Mr JW Loader conducted the hearing with a jury and Mr AJC Mackarness represented the relatives. Witnesses gave evidence of the circumstances of the couple’s disappearance and how Sir William’s behaviour had changed after the outbreak of war.
Charles Prettejohn, a retired tea planter who also lived at Durford Wood, said Sir William, who was 68, had lost his sense of proportion and suffered from severe moods of depression. Having evacuee children affected him and he tried to get them taken away from the house.
Lady Reid’s brother, Lieut-Col Francis Hyde Edwards, of Landfall, Tilmore Road, Petersfield, said his 64-year-old sister had frequently spoken about her husband’s depression.
He said Sir William had “a most frightful obsession that he was not doing enough for the war and that he must live more cheaply and could not afford to keep up that house and must give up the car”.
Housekeeper Grace Cunningham said Sir William did not usually go out with Lady Reid when she took the dog out in the afternoon but on the day they disappeared she found they had both gone out.
PC Bass, stationed at Rake, said he found no note or other evidence of either person intending to take their life.
The inquest jury decided – and the Coroner agreed – that Sir William shot Lady Reid and then shot himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.