Reginald Owens

Had been a reservist called up at the start of the war and sent to France with the B.E.F. and was evacuated from Dunkirk.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: Soldier's Suicide: Found Poisoned near Sutton Reservoir.
Found lying unconcsious near Sutton Reservoir at 05:45 on Monday morning L/Cpl Reginald Owens (29) R.A.S.C whose home was at 65 Union Street, Mansfield died shortly after admission to Mansfield Gemeral Hospital. Owens, who was a reservist, had served in France and was in the evacuation from Dunkirk. His wife, Avis Owens of 65 Union Street spent Whitsuntide with him when he was billetted in York. Mrs Owens told the coroner on Wednesday that on the 28th she received three letters from her husband. She wired him to come home and he came on the 29th on weekend leave. He left home at 08:55 pm last Sunday to catch a bus for Chesterfield to go back to his station.
Late that night he returned home for his steel helmet and took a cup of tea upstairs. He left again about 11:40 pm saying he was going to get a lift to Chestefield.
The witness added that he had been depressed but never threatened to take his own life.
Norman Cook of King's Mill Cottages spoke of finding a soldier at 05:15 am. He was breathing heavily and had abrasions on the forehead. Witness got an ambulance and the deceased was taken to hospital. P.C. Fincham spoke of finding a pool of dark liquid which strongly smelled of disinfectant. On Tuesday a bottle half full of disinfectant was brought to the police station and had been found near the reservoir. Mrs Owens said a bottle of disinfectant was kept in the house and it would be easy for her husband to put it in his pocket as he left the house.
Dr Lyons told the coroner that death was due to poisoning by disinfectant. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by poisoning by disinfectant and that he committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.