BRAVEST ACT OF YEAR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12535, 23 April 1935, Page 3

BRAVEST ACT OF YEAR

AWARD TO NAVAL OFFICER. The Stanhope Cold Medal for ‘the bravest deed of the year* wag awarded at. the annual Court- of the Royal Humane Society ,in London to Lieutenant If ugh N. A. Richardson, in respect of afi accident in. Lamlash Harbor, Isle of Arran, last year. H.M.S. Wolfhound was af, anchor in the harbor whoiy in the early morning, an ordinary Seaman fell overboard arid was swept astern in the darkness. The weather was co-id 1 , with strong south-westerly squalls causing a choppy sea. Turn lifebuoys were thrown at once, hut they failed to reach the man. Lieutenant Richardson threw off his coat and s«aboots and dived clothed into th e sea and Swam to the man, whom he tried to tow to the nearest lifebuov.

ITnahlo to- do so, he swam t-o the buoy, and bringing it back to- the seaman, placed it under his shoulders. By this time a- boat was lowered, and with the aid of a searchlight-, the seaman was picked up. While getting the man into the boat, Lieut. Richardson lost hold of the lifebuoy and was himself swept away in the darkness. It: was ten minutes later when he wa,s- found in on exhausted condition, .half aj mile from the ship. The windl was so strong that the bon £ could! not make any headwav and drifted to a lee shore, where it was beached, Lieut. Richardson and the crew-wading ashore.