There are few more illustrious Burnetts than Admiral Sir Robert Burnett one of the most successful British Admirals in World War II and who commanded the cruiser squadron which sank the battleship, the Scharnhorst, the pride of the German Fleet, on Boxing Day 1943.
When the old Aberdeenshire gamekeeper, with whom Admiral Burnett used to go shooting in earlier days, heard of his share in the sinking of the Scharnhorst, he meditatively remarked, “Aye, he micht hit a thing that big!”
The Admiral, in full keeping with his character, laughed heartily when the Principal of Aberdeen University related this at the ceremony when Sir Robert was given an honory doctorate in 1944