Robert Francis Smith, (1883-19/12/1906). "floating near the powder magazine"

CASUALTIES.

The police received word early this morning that the body of a man was floating near the powder magazine at Waverley. When constables Butler and Skinner got to the spot the body had washed ashore, and they conveyed it to the morgue. The dead man's name was Robert Francis Smith, and his parents reside at Belleknowes. He appears to belong to the Naval Reserve, and to have been doing some work on board H.M.S. Pioneer. He was working yesterday, and apparently left for Broad Bay in a skiff during the afternoon. It is supposed that the boat capsized. An inquest will be at the morgue to-morrow morning.  -Evening Star, 20/12/1906.

DEATHS

SMITH. — On the l0th December (by drowning in the Dunedin Harbour), Robert Francis Smith (Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Pioneer), beloved son of Robert J. and Mary Helen Smith, Preston crescent, Belleknowes; aged 23 years. Deeply regretted.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/12/1906.

A HARBOUR MYSTERY.

SAILOR DROWNED WHILST CANOEING. 

The city coroner (Mr C. C. Graham) held an inquiry at the Morgue yesterday into the circumstances surrounding the death o[ Robert Francis Smith (23), single man, a seaman, and a member of the Naval Reserve. 

Robert Job Smith, bootmaker, living at Belleknowes, Mornington, father of deceased, said that on Wednesday deceased left home between 12 and 1 O'clock, telling his mother he was going out in a boat. Witness knew nothing of his further movements of his own personal knowledge. Deceased was sober. He was being put through a course of drill aboard H.M.S. Pioneer, now lying in the harbour. Witness last saw his son alive, when going to work about 7.30 on Wednesday morning. 

Ernest Victor Owler, seaman, H.M.S. Pioneer, said he saw deceased in a six-foot canoe fixing up a sail, as if for a trip in the harbour, between 2.30 and 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. There was a boy with him. It was not a ship's canoe. Witness had seen it lying on the beach. Witness did not see him start. Deceased had finished drill and was free till next morning. When drill was over the Naval Reserve men were free to leave the ship. 

Walter Alfred Edward Towler, storeman, residing at Vauxhall. that on Thursday morning about 8 he saw a body floating in the harbour, just below the powder hulk. He telephoned to the police, and remained there until the body drifted ashore. Two policemen then took charge of the body, and conveyed it in an express to town. There was a slight blood mark above the nose. 

Dr Gordon Macdonald, who made a post modem examination, stated that deceased might have been dead from 15 to 20 hours. The face had apparently been bitten by fish. On either side of the brow, immediately below the hair, there were abrasions on the skin, and the skin was dented and pushed down as if it had been struck by some blunt weapon. There was nothing externally to indicate the cause of death. The body was half-clad — sailor trousers, white shirt, and no stockings. Rigor mortis was present. The arms and legs were semibent in the position a man would be in in self-defence. There was a dent in the forehead which must have been received during life. He found an internal hurt corresponding to the external. The lungs were normal, with no water in them. He concluded that the man had received a blow from some blunt, instrument during life. He then either fell into the water or was thrown in. There was only one other explanation, and that not a feasible one: Deceased might have dived and hit his head violently against the bottom. This was, to say the least, unlikely. 

The Coroner remarked that deceased might possibly have been struck on the head by the boom; in dodging he might have received a second blow. 

Sub-inspector Black suggested that in the event of the inquiry being adjourned, the boy who was with deceased when seen by Towler, and also the canoe, might be found. The inquest was adjourned until Thursday, January 3, at 2.30.  -Otago Daily Times, 22/12/1906.

A HARBOUR MYSTERY.

EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.

The city coroner (Mr C. C. Graham) and a jury of six were engaged at the Police Court yesterday afternoon in completing the adjourned inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Robert Francis Smith, a seaman on H.M.S. Pioneer, whose body was recovered from the harbour on Thursday, December 20.

It will be remembered that the inquest was opened at the Morgue on December 21, when Dr Gordon Macdonald stated that as the result of a post-mortem examination he had come to the conclusion that the man died from the effect of a blow or blows on the head by some blunt weapon. 

Allan Henry Bedford, manager of the Glasgow Restaurant, stated that, whilst standing by the boatsheds on December 19, he saw deceased, who told him that he was about to make the journey by canoe to Broad Bay. It was blowing and raining hard at the time, but deceased stated he would be all right as he had a good oilskin with him. He was dressed in his naval uniform, but was not wearing boots. When a hundred yards out from shore deceased hoisted an ordinary leg-of-mutton sail. The boom would be little thicker than a broomstick. The man was perfectly sober. 

Allan Ellesmere Woodman, Cumberland street, gave similar evidence. 

Charlee Baird, labourer, Mornington, who also saw deceased hoist his sail when a hundred yards from shore, stated that the wind at the time was S.E.. and he lowered the sail immediately. The hoisting of the sail took place just as the Moerangi was passing, and witness failed to make it out after the Moerangi had passed. It struck him at the time that an accident had happened, but, as deceased might have lowered his sail witness thought no more about it. The sail was a "sprit" sail. There was no boom along the bottom. 

James Campbell, master of the Moerangi, stated that on December 19, between the black buoy off the Victoria wharf and Waverley jetty he passed a boat bottom up. It was a white boat with a pink bottom, having about 8ft of a keel.  It was blowing a strong S.W. gale, with a flood tide. The sea was very choppy. He steered as close to the bank as he dared, but could see nothing. The boat was at anchor, and was in the same place when he passed up at 7.30 next morning. Witness thought that when the boat had capsized the occupant might easily have been struck more than once. He considered it was possible a man's skull could have been fractured in this manner. On this particular evening it was one of the heaviest seas he had ever seen in the harbour. 

The Jury returned a verdict showing that deceased was found in Otago Harbour, death having been caused by injuries to the head, but there was not sufficient evidence to show how the injuries had been received.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/1/1907.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

36596 Lance Corporal Frederick James Gerry, (6/9/1892-21/11/1917). "his loving face"

 

Frederick Gerry was working as a cabinetmaker when he joined the Army. He was in 4 Company, 3rd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment when he was killed.  The following extract from the Official History covers the fatal day.  It reports no concerted action on the 21st so it is possible the he was killed by a sniper.

On November 21st the Battalion moved into the line in relief of Wellington troops on the right of the Brigade sector. The two front line Companies were 4th and 8th from right to left, with 10th Company in support, and 14th Company held in reserve for counter-attacking purposes. Heavy rain fell all night and considerable work was required to effect drainage of the trenches. 

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE

GERRY. — On November 21, 1917, killed while in action "Somewhere in France," Frederick James (21st Reinforcements), second dearly beloved son of Mary and the late Leonard Gerry, Ravensbourne; aged 25 years. 

So loved, so mourned.   -Otago Daily Times, 26/12/1917.

GERRY. — In loving memory of Frederick James Gerry (21st Reinforcements), who was killed in action "Somewhere in France," November 21, 1917; aged 25 years. 

Do not ask us if we miss him — There is such a vacant place; 

Can we e'er forget his footsteps Or his dear familiar face? 

One year has passed, our hearts are sore, As time rolls on we miss him more; 

His welcome smile, his loving face — No one can ever fill his place. 

Some day we hope to meet him — Some day, we know not when, 

We shall clasp his hand in the better land And never part again. 

— Inserted by his loving mother and brothers.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/11/1918.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

William Henry Haydon, (1853-20/8/1905). "an entertaining raconteur"

By the death of Mr William Henry Haydon ono of the eldest and most respected licensed ] victuallers in this city has been removed from our midst. Deceased was born in London in 1853, and when 19 years of age he went to Victoria, where he followed mining pursuits for some years with varying success. He was in Ballarat during the stormy times of the famous Eureka Stockade excitement, and for some time was on the Inglewood and other goldfields. He came to New Zealand in 1862, obtaining employment as gold buyer at the Dunstan, as it was then called, for one of the Dunedin banks. During this period Mr Haydon made the acquaintance of the late Mr Carew, who was at that time gold receiver at Nevis. Tiring of the goldfields he came to Dunedin, accepting an offer from the late Mr Dodson to take over the management of the old Port Chalmers Hotel, his employer being at that time proprietor of the Provincial Hotel at Port Chalmers also. After a short time he started in business for himself as "mine host" of the old Bull and Mouth Hotel, situated in Maclaggan street. Four years later he entered into possession of the Imperial Hotel — at that time one of the leading hotels in Dunedin. Shortly afterwards he bought the Criterion Hotel, retaining both houses for some years. In 1892 Mr Haydon took over the Grange Hotel, and fall upon troublous times, this house being one of the 22 hotels closed in consequence of the reduction carried by the no-license vote. About this time he took over the Prince of Wales Hotel, retaining it for three and a-half years. Having disposed of that hotel Mr Haydon acquired the Central Hotel, where he resided during the past six years. During his hotel connection in Dunedin Mr Haydon held hotel licenses continuously for 36 years. Being of a somewhat retiring disposition he never took any active part in public matters, but was a widely read man and an entertaining raconteur. Fifteen months ago deceased had a slight hemorrhage of the brain, from the effects of which he never recovered, being more or less a confirmed invalid ever since. Finally paralysis supervened, and he gradually sank, dying at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, 29th inst. He is survived by a widow and one son, Mr George Haydon.  -Otago Witness, 6/9/1905.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

Captain Horatio Gordon, (18/7/1854-28/10/1927). "the personification of duty"

 OBITUARY

CAPTAIN GORDON. 

The announcement of the death of Captain Horatio Gordon brings up the image of a man who was the personification of duty, entirely just in relationship to his fellows, and reliable to the uttermost particular. Bred as a sailor, he developed into the true type — quiet and with a high sense of responsibility, willing to serve and give of his best in whatever position he found himself. He was born in Aberdeen on July 19, 1854, took to the sea in early life, and worked his way from forecastle to quarterdeck on his merits. His first ship was the famous Australian liner Thermopylae, of the White Star Line. He joined her as an apprentice on her maiden voyage, and his connection with that vessel is worthy of mention, for he became her third mate, then her second mate, and then her first mate. Subsequently he was on the articles of another celebrated vessel, the Ascalon. Then for eleven years he had the position of master of the Shaw-Savill sailing ship Taranaki, trading to New Zealand. At that period of his career Captain Gordon thought he had earned the right to a shore life, and he applied for the position of officer in charge of the Tower Bridge, London, That job he missed “by a whisker.” as the saying goes. It is understood that at the final selection he was placed second. Disappointed in application, he turned his eyes to New Zealand, and in December of 1897 was appointed by the Otago Harbor Board master of the tug Plucky. In that capacity he graduated for promotion, and on October 1, 1902, he was appointed deputy-harbor master under Captain Thomson, a position that he filled with credit till his retirement in April of 1923, when he was the recipient of handsome presents from the staff and six months’ full pay from the board. One of his old ship acquaintances says: “I knew Captain Gordon whilst he was master of the Taranaki, and rate him as a model of efficiency, hospitality, and dignity — a very fine type of man.” Mrs Gordon, who died a few years ago, is well remembered by her service on the Hospital Board and more by her work amongst the distressed and poor of our city.  -Evening Star, 27/10/1927.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.