Andrew, what do you think is the origin of Michael's (i.e. Peter Pan's) fear of water? Theory: Could Michael have fallen in a lake or stream over his head while swimming or fishing at a young age and had to be rescued? I shared his fear of water since age six when an uncle of mine decided I could learn to swim by tossing me in six feet of water at a public pool. I almost drowned. It took me almost to age 16 to overcome the fear of deep water and I still am not a good swimmer.

I completely agree that Michael accidentally drowned... in his panic at wadeing out too far, calling Buxton for help, and pulling both of them down.
On a couple occasions when I was a young teen, I waded out in a pool up to my neck and began to panic. There are documented cases where when in a panic (similar to the superhuman strength of a mentally deranged person in a rage) Michael may have clung so hard and desperately to Buxton that he overcame Buxton's superior size and strength.

On p. 278 of James Barrie & The Lost Boys is stated, "Michael was...co-editor of the Eton College Chronicle writing letters and POEMS galore..."

Question: Are any of these poems still extant, possibly in the archives of the Chronicle at Eton?

Around 1979 I was on the staff of a library and was fascinated by the story of Barrie and the lost boys after reading the first edition of Mr. Birkin's book. I requested a copy of the Boy Castaways on microfilm from the Beinicke Library and received it. The photos were very beautiful. Unfortunately, my copy was stolen some years ago, but at least I got to enjoy it.