Son of George Burnett and of Margaret Rose Burnett (nee Duthie), of Clifton Road, Aberdeen; born Johannesburg, 1912 ; educated at Robert Gordon's College. In 1934 he graduated M.A. with Honours in Classics and later took the degree of LL.B., becoming an assistant with J. M. Clapperton, advocate, Aberdeen. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps, and after obtaining his commission was sent to Singapore. On the fall of this city he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and held in a camp there till February 1943, when he was transferred to another camp in Thailand. He died there in June of the same year.