Brenda Mcmahon has submitted the following :-
Robert was born at Gateshead in 1887 to Thomas and Margaret Jane (nee Marshall) His siblings were Thomas, William and Sydney. His father was from Birmingham area and was a plumber by trade.
By 1911 his father had changed jobs and is now shown as a commercial clerk. His 16 year old son, Thomas, was also a commercial clerk.
The following census shows father now a clerk with the Gas Company, younger brother serving his time as a butcher whilst Robert is now shown as a sailor. However he must have been on leave and was at home at the time of the census.
He gained his Certificate of Competency as 2nd Mate on 25 August 1911 then went on to received his Certificate of Competency 15 March 1913 as 1st Mate.
The Gateshead High West Street Wesleyan Circuit Magazine for October 1915 says that brothers RT, (Robert Thompson) TM (Thomas Marshall) and WT (William Tindale) Bird are all serving.
Robert drowned at sea 29 March 1917 aged 30 years. He had been serving on S.S. Unio. His parents lived at 12 Albert Drive, Low Fell.
Robert Thompson Bird is remembered at Low Fell on L61.02 L61.03 and L61.05 and on our List of Ships’ crews
