BRAVERY AWARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22524, 15 September 1936, Page 8

BRAVERY AWARDS

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY THE WEYMOUTH TRAGEDY GIRL'S GALLANTRY RECOGNISED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Mention of an attempted rescue from drowning at Long Point, Otago, by Charles Connell, who lost bis life in the attempt, was made at a meeting to-day of the court of directors of the Royal Humane Society. The chairman, Canon W. S. Bean, said the society regarded Mr. Connell's as a very gallant effort. The award made was an In Memoriam certificate and the silver medal. Other awards were:—

Bronze Medal.—Mr. Thomas Gillings, for a rescue from drowning in the Waikato River; Mr.Charles Vernon Spragg, for a rescue and an attempted rescue at "VYaihi Beach, Hawera; Keith Valentine Blomfield, for a rescue at Russell, Bay of Islands. Certificates. —Mr. Derek Thorburn, for a rescue at Waitotara; Constable Benson Gillard, for a rescue at Tangimoana; Mr. George Dunn, for a rescue at G^is borne. Letters of Commendation. —Mr. Francis Henry Green a way and Mr. •• Gordon Standish, for a rescue and an attempted rescue at Waihi Beach, Hawera; Mr. Clifford George Scarlett, for a rescue near. Upper Moutere; Mr. Sydney Bowker, for a rescue at Titirangi, Auckland; Miss Mary Eleanor Reese, for a rescue at Weymouth, Auckland.

Miss Reese rescued two boys when a boat, with seven occupants and a load of firewood, overturned when it was struck by a wave in a rip caused b.v wind and tide near .Weymouth, on the upper reaches of the Manukau Harbour, on January 27 last. No one on shore saw the accident, but screams carried by the wind for nearly a mile were heard by Mrs. Reese. Sirs. Reese and her daughter ran to the beach and saw the boat floating bottom up near tho middle of the channel. They launched a 16ft. boat, and Mary Reese rowed out alone to the drifting craft, to which thetwo boys could be seen clinging. After a hard struggle she reached them and pulled them to safety, but there was no sign of the other members of the party, all of whom were drowned. Keith Blomfield, a 13-year-old schoolboy, plunged into the water fully clothed ana supported until help arrived a child of throe years, Reggie Englehart, who fell from the end of the wharf at Russell on March 21 last.

Mr. Gillings jumped into the Waikato River at Huntly just before dark on May 28, fully clothed and"with his left hand in splints, and saved a child from being drowned.