Rank: Private
Regimental Number: 646
Place of Birth: Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Address: 52 Glyde Street(WW1: 96), East Fremantle
Next of Kin: Wife, Mrs Emma Kolby
Enlistment Date: 9 August 1915
Unit Name: 28 Battalion, A Company
Age embarkation: 24
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Seaman
Date of Death: 25 December 1936
Place of Burial: Fremantle Cemetery (Anglican Portion A5), Western Australia
Links:
History
1920 Evidence At Inquest: Gallant Attempt To Rescue Little Girl. At the Fremantle Courthouse this afternoon, the inquiry into the death of Cambridge White, who lost his life while trying to rescue a little girl, who had got into difficulties when swimming in the Swan River, near the North Fremantle railway bridge, on the afternoon of January 2. Alice Irene Hardy, 11 years of age, residing at 19 Bayley-street, North Fremantle, said she was bathing with another little girl and a boy. She could not swim, so put on some cork wings. She got into deep water, and the other little girl called out for help. Witness was not afraid. A man jumped into the water and swam to her. He told her to catch hold of him, which she did, and he started to swim back to shallow water. After going a little distance, however, he told her to let go. She did so, and sank. Mr. Kolby then swam out to her and brought her to the shore. This was the first time she had gone bathing at this spot. Albert Kolby, of 96 Glyde-street, East Fremantle, a lumper, said that at 5 o'clock on the afternoon of January 2, he was going home with deceased. When on the North Fremantle railway bridge they heard cries for assistance, and deceased took his coat and jacket off, and jumped in to assist a girl who was in the water, and who sank once before he reached her. Witness called out, "Are you all right?" and deceased replied "Yes." A little later he called out "Help," and witness went to his assistance. Just before reaching him he heard deceased say very quietly to the girl, "Let go." Then he sank, and did not come up again...The Acting Coroner concurred with the remarks, and drew attention to the fact that Kolby was a returned soldier. (reference)
RESIDENTS
1915 - 1920: Robert A. Kolby
