LIVES SAVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 2

LIVES SAVED

AWARD TO AIRMAN HUMANE SOCIETY'S MEDAL (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday An impressive ceremony took place at the Central Camp of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Hamilton, when Leading Aircraftman W. Dodds, of Huntly, a member of the R.N.Z.A.F., was presented with the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal for saving the life of Aircraftman W. T. Donaghy. Two instances of saving life from drowning were mentioned in the citation, but the medal was presented with respect to the rescue of Aircraftman Donaghy, who made a. special trip from a South Island station to be present. There was a full wing parade under the acting-station commander, Squad-ron-Leader H. H. Smith. The only civilians present were Mrs. Dodds, the wife of Dodds, and his sister, Miss Dodds. lhe presentation was made by Mr. I. Findlav M.P. The citation was read, and Mr.' Findlay congratulated LeadingAircraftman Dodds on the acts of heroism that had justly merited the award which had been bestowed upon him. The citation reads as follows: — Un November 21, 194*2, Leading-Aircraft-man Dodds, while serving in an R.N.Z.A.F. construction unit stationed overseas, was engaged in work on the bank of a near by river. On hearing a cry for help from an American soldier,'Dodds ran to the river and dived in fully clad. On reaching the spot where the American had been, he had to dive under the water as the 6wimmer had disappeared from view. Dodds brought the soldier to the surface and. in spite of the strong current, towed him ashore. Again on December 1, 1942, Leading - Aircraftman Dodds rescued an airman, Aircraftman (First Class) W. T: Donaghy, in similar circumstances. This time, however, Dodds had to swim 50 yards against a strong current and had difficultv in bringing Donaghy to shore, which he only reached after a great effort and in a very exhausted condition. There is no doubt that had it not been for Dodds' prompt and gallant rescues both the American soldier and Aircraftman Donaghy would have lost their lives." Mr. Findlay then pinned the bronze medal to the tunic of Leading-Air-craftman Dodds, and the parade was dismissed. PICTURES IN COURT UNUSUAL DEMONSTRATION A special type of moving picture was utilised in the Supreme Court yesterday to demonstrate to a iury the working of a grab at the wharf. An application by counsel to be allowed to present evidence in this unusual form was heard by Mr. Justice Fair in chambers and granted after lie had made an explanation. His Honor said this was not to be regarded as a precedent that in every case counsel were entitled to adopt this method of demonstration. He wished to record that, so that there might be no misunderstanding. There was some objection to the method because in some cases photographs were misleading and difficult to follow at times, and it was generally preferable to view the actual scene. However, His Honor added, in this case it seemed likely that the demonstration by the exceptional method of moving pictures might be helpful, and lie saw no ground for taking exception to it. Mr. Fawcett, who produced the picture as counsel for plaintiff, said that the film could bo stopped at any point and used as a "still." Mr. Hanier, counsel for the Harbour Board, the defendant in the action, said he could readily provide an actual demonstration of the grab. For a few minutes the lights of the Court were lowered while experts threw on a cardboard screen the outline of a grab beingj raised. An operator described the circumstances in which the film was taken. DECREE NISI GRANTED A (fecree nisi was granted by Mr. Justice Cat la u yesterday to Ivy Evelyn Dangen (Mr. Reed) against ' Herbert Henry Dangen, on the ground o-f separation. The parties were married in 1930 and have six children.