Captain, The Reverend Roderick Harold Capper BIRT
Radley College Officer Training Corps

Date of birth: 1882
Date of death: 19th October 1975

Died aged 93
Unknown
Roderick Harold Capper Birt was born at "Merlebank" in Caterham on the 24th of October 1882 the third son of Daniel Birt and Mary Ella (nee Capper) Birt of 54 Shooter’s Hill, Blackheath.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1896 where he was a member of the Choir and was Head of School. He was a member of the Football XI in 1895 and the school magazine wrote the following on his football season that year: - "Played in three matches at full back but never mastered the art of kicking the ball at the right moment or in the right direction."

He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1896 and the school magazine wrote the following of his season: - "No one tried harder. He thoroughly deserved what success his batting met with, and just came off when most wanted. A fairly useful field."

When he left the school the magazine wrote: - ".... goes to Wellington where we are sure he will add to the reputation of Hazelwood in every way. As Head of the School, Chorister, Cricketer, and Footballer, he has always done his duty, and in him we lose a most trusty and useful friend."

He went on to Wellington College where he was in Mr. Brougham’s House from September 1896 to 1901. He was appointed as a School Prefect in 1901, was Head of House in 1901 and was a member of the Rugby XV in 1900 and 1901. He went on to New College Oxford in 1901 where he rowed for his college in 1904 and won a Cross Country "Half Blue" in 1902. He graduated in 1905 with 2nd Class Honours in Natural Science in 1905 and later obtained a MA.

On leaving university he accepted a position as an assistant master at Radley College in 1906 where he taught science, as well as being the Social Tutor for E House. He was ordained as a Deacon in September 1907 and attended Cuddesdon Theological College the same year, becoming a Priest in 1908. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Radley College Officer Training Corps on the 20th of April 1909 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 22nd of January 1911. He was promoted to Captain on the 1st of June 1913 and resigned his commission on the 30th of June 1918 when he left the school for South Africa. On leaving he founded the Birt Speech Prize, for the best speech in a set subject.

In 1919 he became Headmaster of the Diocesan College, Rondebosch in Cape Town where he served until 1943. A house at the college is named in his memory.

He became Canon Emeritus of St George’s Cathedral Cape Town in 1940 and Assistant Priest of St Saviour’s, Claremont, Cape Town from 1944 to 1960.

He was married at All Saints Church, Blackheath to Alice Sophie (nee Kidd) on the 17th of April 1909; they lived at Radley College and, from 1919, they lived at 4 Glebe Road, Rondebosch, South Africa; they had no children. When Alice died in May 1942, he was married again in 1944 to Mary (nee Le Mesurier), the widow of Frank Goch of the South African Air Force.

He was a member of the Chemical Society, the Civil Service Club, the Leander Club and of the Royal Empire Society; he listed gardening as his main interest. He lived at 14 Penrith Road, Wynberg, Cape Town.
Went on to Wellington College

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