Irrawaddy Magazine Obituaries

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extracted from the Company's "Irrawaddy Magazine"

Irrawaddy Flotilla Co.

Obituaries

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Armstrong	Lt.	Soon after Bagdad was captured in 1917, Lt. Armstrong was sent above to buoy the river, with a small party in a motor launch. The launch broke down and they were surprised by a patrol of Turkish cavalry. Armstrong and most of his party were killed. His grave is unknown.	July 1929 - Issue No 8
Baird-Smith	J.R.	On Sunday, the 19th February, we received the sad news of the death on the previous day of Mr J.R. Baird-Smith who left Rangoon on furlough on the 9th of that month. Coming to Burma in 1904 as a Covenanted Assistant, he served continuously up to the time of his decease. He was in his 50th year. To many the news of his death must have come as a profound shock, but to those who had been in touch with him almost daily for the past two years the struggle of his high spirit with indifference and declining health was but too evident.To a man of his temperament the thought of retiring could never present itself in any acceptable form and we may be sure that the end, when it came upon him whilst still an active sharer in the affairs of the Company, was as he would wish it to be. Scarcely a Committee of Public Service was formed in Rangoon in the past ten years without his name appearing amongst those of its members, and this record is but an outward sign of the service he rendered to his fellowmen in his private life, while there must be many men of many races who will always recall his name with gratitude and affection. His nature was extraordinarily gentle; and his judgments being invariably those of the heart, rather than of the head, the quality of his mercy formed a welcome haven to storm bound wanderers from the straight and narrow path. Modest, retiring, we are reminded of a wish expressed by him on the day before his departure, that he should slip quietly away down-river without any fuss or demonstration as send-off. Well, he has slipped quietly away, as he desired and no better fate need befall a son of an Island Nation than that he should die upon the seas and be buried therein.	April 1928 - Issue No. 3
Belchamber	Mr.	Went home with the first Burma Contingent in 1914 and enlisted in the Army on his arrival home. He was killed by a shell soon after entering the trenches for the first time.	July 1929 - Issue No 8
Belletty	A.H.	We regret to have to announce that Mr A.H. Belletty died on the 23rd May last. Mr Belletty served his apprenticeship in Dalla Dockyard, joining in 1880. In 1885 he went afloat and served in various steamers, being promoted Chief Engineer in 1898. He was serving in the "Salween" when he died, having been Chief Engineer of her for about 30 years. He was always cheery, a splendid shipmate and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.	Oct. 1928 - Issue No. 5.
Buchan	Thomas Fulton	It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of Mr Buchan on 29th January at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. Mr Buchan retired from the Service lately and was intending to be married in Colombo, after which he was travelling on a world's tour for a honeymoon. He arrived in Colombo at the beginning of January and was having dinner with his fiancée when he suddenly collapsed and died. "Tommy" Buchan was born in Dumbarton on January 29th 1881. It will be noticed that he died on his birthday. After serving his apprenticeship at Denny & Co. in Dumbarton he joined the Service in July 1903. He was promoted Chief Engineer in 1907 being Chief Engineer of the R.M.S. "Ceylon" when he retired. "Tommy was a general favourite with all, always cheerful and jocular and he will be sadly missed by all the Service and by his numerous friends in Burma.	April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Corlett	Lt. D.	Died on October 9th 1916 and was buried in the Makina Masus Cemetery.	July 1929 - Issue No 8
Fryer	Capt. A.	in command of the Mail Steamer "Japan" in 1919, with Capt. Turndrup as Commodore of the "Nepaul" died on the road out of Burma in 1942.	From Capt. Chubb's account of the Trek
Innes	John	We regret to have to announce the death on the 17th February of Mr John Innes, Chairman of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, senior partner of Messrs. P. Henderson & Co. and until December 31st 1928, Managing Director of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. Mr Innes joined Messrs. P. Henderson over 60 years ago, when it was still the Albion Shipping Co. and owned only sailing ships. He had been senior partner of P. Henderson's for many years until he retired at the end of 1927. Mr Innes paid his last visit to Burma in 1903.	April 1929 - Issue No. 2
MacDonald	Capt. D.	We have news from home - Capt. D. MacDonald has died lately from the effects of a bad motor accident.	Oct. 1927 Issue No. 1
McNab	Henry	On 6th April, 1929 at his residence, 7 Parkes Avenue, Wanganui, New Zealand, Henry McNab, Master Mariner. Aged 74 years, late of I.F. Co. Rangoon.	July 1929 - Issue No 8
Phillips	R.	We regret to have to record the sad death by drowning of Messrs. W.T. Pinnington and R. Phillips, Commander and Chief Engineer respectively of the tug "Ngatsein" on December 18th 1928, when she foundered off Krishna Shoal on passage from Moulmein to Rangoon. Mr Pinnington joined the Service in June last year and had served as 2nd mate and mate until he was sent round to Moulmein on this duty.Mr Phillips joined the Service in 1918 and had been Chief Engineer for some years on the Prome Ferry Service. He had just returned from leave, having married a short time before he left home. The whole Service has been deeply shocked by this regrettable accident and the sympathy of all goes out to Mrs Phillips and Miss Pinnington.	April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Pinnington	W.T.	We regret to have to record the sad death by drowning of Messrs. W.T. Pinnington and R. Phillips, Commander and Chief Engineer respectively of the tug "Ngatsein" on December 18th 1928, when she foundered off Krishna Shoal on passage from Moulmein to Rangoon. Mr Pinnington joined the Service in June last year and had served as 2nd mate and mate until he was sent round to Moulmein on this duty.Mr Phillips joined the Service in 1918 and had been Chief Engineer for some years on the Prome Ferry Service. He had just returned from leave, having married a short time before he left home. The whole Service has been deeply shocked by this regrettable accident and the sympathy of all goes out to Mrs Phillips and Miss Pinnington.	April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Porter	C.	We regret to have to announce the death of Mr C. Porter at sea on board the S.S. "Rajputana" on May 6th. Mr Porter left Rangoon on May 1st to proceed home on leave. His cheery smile will be greatly missed and we are sure that all who knew him will deeply sympathize with his wife in her great loss.	July 1928 - Issue No 4
Powell Browne	Capt. F.	We regret to have to announce the death of Capt. Powell Browne on the 11th October last after a long illness in hospital. Capt. Powell Browne was born in Manchester in 1874. After serving in sail and steam for several years he joined the Service on November 4th 1898. He served in several steamers as 2nd mate and Commander. On December 14th 1918 he was appointed Agent at Pakokku, being transferred to Nyaungla as Agent on the 20th December 1920. Returning from leave he was appointed as Agent at Prome in 1922 and remained there till he went on leave. He returned to Prome after his leave but had to go home again in March 1925 owing to ill-health. He retired from the Service in May 1926. From the time he left Prome till he died he was in a nursing home and later in hospital in London. Capt. Powell Browne was "hail fellow well net" with everyone and we are sure that all who knew him will deeply sympathise with his widow and daughters in their great loss.	Jan. 1929 - Issue No. 1.
Rowett	Capt. R.H.	It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of Capt. R.H. Rowett in Meiktila Hospital on April 18th. Capt. Rowett was 31 years of age and was born in Camborne, Cornwall. He joined the Service in 1926. He had been appointed to the "Koyan" on the Mandalay-Chauk ferry service and was travelling in the train to Myingyan to join the ship. During the night he was attacked by train thieves and was stabbed in several places. He was taken to Meiktila Hospital where everything possible was done for him. Unfortunately he was too far gone and he died the day after he was admitted to Hospital. He was buried at Meiktila on the 19th. The funeral was attended by all the European community and officials of Meiktila. Mr Morton and Commander Musgrave representing the Flotilla.Capt. Rowett will be greatly missed by all in the Service as he was very popular and was liked by all.	July 1929 - Issue No. 8.
Scott Robertson	Capt. T.	We regret to have to announce that Capt. T. Scott Robertson late Marine Superintendent, died at Churchill, Edinburgh, at the beginning of the year. He was born on the 31st July 1870 and joined the Service in December 1897. In 1904 he was appointed Assistant Marine Superintendent and in February 1907 he relieved Capt. J. Cooper as Marine Superintendent. He retired in February 1924. Capt. Scott Robertson was extremely popular in the Service. He leaves a widow to whom our sympathy goes out to her great loss.	April 1928 - Issue No. 3
Streets	Capt. A.C.	"The news of the death, at sea, of Capt. A.C. Streets came as a great shock to his numerous friends in Burma and in the Service. Capt. Streets was born in September 1892 and after some years at sea, joined the Service in February 1920. He had been in Command for some years and was returning from leave on the "Chindwin" when he was found dead at 3 a.m. on April 11th. He was buried at sea."Alfie" was very popular with all in the Service and the sympathy of all will go out to his widow and two children."	July 1929 - Issue No. 8.
Thomas	Capt. P.C.	With regard to the obituary notice in respect to the late Capt. P.C. Thomas inserted in our last issue. I have to crave forgiveness for one or two omissions. I omitted to express our sincere condolences to Mrs P.C. Thomas and her two children who were home in England at the time of the sad occurrence andour deep sense of grievous loss which she and they have sustained. It was stated in the notice that the pall-bearers were six of Captain Thomas's brother Commanders; the gentlemen however who performed this service were, Capt. Musgrave, Mr J.C. Bone, Capt. Andrews, Capt. Watts, Capt. Macartney and Mr Paine. I would also like to make mention of the kindly interest in the affairs of the men afloat which is always taken by Miss Hislop in Mandalay. Apart from her ready sympathy to all connected with the Company she never omits to send a floral token of regret on sad occasions such as the one under notice.	October 1931 - No. 17.
Turndrup	Capt.	as Commodore of the "Nepaul" with Capt. A. Fryer in command of the Mail Steamer "Japan" in 1919, died on the road out of Burma in 1942.	From Capt. Chubb's account of the Trek
Vivian	Capt. T.E.	It is with great regret that we have to announce that Capt. T.E. Vivian died at 6.35p.m. on Sunday July 22nd, on board the S.S. "Morea" in the Red Sea. Capt. Vivian had just finished a game of deck quoits when he suddenly fell to the deck. He gave a few gasping breaths and passed away. Stimulants were injected and everything possible was done, but all were of no avail. The cause of death was heart failure. Capt. Vivian was buried at Suez on the morning of the 23rd. Thomas Edmund Vivian was born on September 17th 1874. After serving in the H.M.S. "Conway" he went to sea in sail. Passing for his 2nd Mate's certificate he joined the Flotilla at the age of 23, on June 8th 1896. He served as second and first officer in various steamers and was appointed to his first command in the "Ngawoon" on August 13th 1900. In October of that year he was appointed river pilot on the Ngawoon river and after a spell of leave was appointed Commander of the "Ataran" an later, the "Pago." In October 1902 he was appointed rock pilot at Ngazun for the season. After being in the command of the "Thambyadine," "Maulong," "Amyen" and "Katha" on the Chindwin river, he was appointed Superintendent of Pilots in November 1906.During his term of office as Superintendent of Pilots one can safely sat that the river was as perfectly buoyed as it was possible to be. Yet one occasionally heard an S.O.S. "Where is Vivian?" A life-long teetotaller, a good bridge player, friendly with all and enemy to none, he will be greatly missed in the Service. R.I.P.	Oct. 1928 - Issue No. 5.