While named as a murderer by the NSW Coroner, the Naval Board of Inquiry returned a verdict of suspected, not proven guilty of the murder of George Ritchie onboard HMAS Brisbane. NOTE: Transcripts from the court of inquiry reflect racist opinions of the time. The evidence is all circumstantial. The chief reason George was suspected was that he committed suicide that night, however some reports state that George "strangled himself" rather then hanged himself. Some ex-Naval Police members of the NGP feel that George may have been innocent, the coroners' finding was incorrect. George was accorded a funeral with naval honours. The lack of a headstone is due to his death not being deemed service related, a policy applied to all. It should be noted that Richie did not receive a headstone at that time either. Ritchie buried Rookwood RC Naval Section and has had a headstone provided in June 2022. Future redevelopment of that section may see all unmarked graves marked.
