Robert John BirchPrint Page

The marble plaque commemorates Robert Birch who accidentally drowned at Clontarf, Middle Harbour in 1865.

The City Coronor held an inquest yesterday at Rhode`s Family Hotel, Forbes-street, Woolloomooloo, on the body of Robert Birch, aged eight years. From the evidence it appeared that the lad was the son of Mr. Birch master of the William and Mary, schooner, and attended St. James' school. He formed one of the scholars who were invited to a picnic at Manly Beach on Thursday. A large number went down, the classes being supervised on the steamer by the several teachers, the whole being superintended by the Rev. Mr. Moreton. On arriving at Manly Beach the scholars were directed to fully enjoy themselves, and were cautioned not to go near the water, nor to straggle away. The deceased, however, according to his mother's evidence, was somewhat headstrong, and would sometimes do that which he was cautioned not to do.

He managed, with other boys, to slip away for the purpose of bathing. When in the water he observed two bottles floating, and in the attempt to get at them, went beyond his depth. His juvenile companions were unable to save him, and being alarmed at their own disobedience, abstained from giving the alarm until the lad had been ten minutes or a quarter of an hour under water. One or two teachers stripped, and made every effort to recover the body, while the Rev. Mr. Moreton procured a boat and made search. But the body was not recovered until the pilot boat and a New Zealand crew arrived with grappling irons. The body was taken to the residence of his parents, at 9 p.m. on Thursday, The jury found a verdict of accidentally drowned.
Empire (Sydney), 9 December 1865. 

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