BRAVEST MAN OF THE YEAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14596, 4 May 1918, Page 7

BRAVEST MAN OF THE YEAR.

DOUBLE RESCUE AT NIGHT IN

ICY SEA

NAVAL OFFICER'S GOLD MEDAL

Out of a thousand people who won recognition from tie _ Royal Humanje Society for saving lives m 1917 Commander Francis H. L. Lewie, R.N., has been selected to receive the Stanhope gold medal for the bravest deed of the year. His action was described at the Royal Humane Society's meeting m London : — About 8 p.m. on February 8, 1917, one of H.M. ships struck a mine m English waters and* sank m a few minutes. With the intention of picking up survivors, a trawler steamed over the spot, but m putting out her boat it was damaged and broke adrift, thereby losing the only means of rescuing those m the water. Shortly afterwards, Commander Lewln drifted alongside, with two men clinging to him, and although he knew that he might drift away again any moment, as others had already done, ne called out to those on the trawler to take the men first, and supported' the second man until the first was dragged, on board. Eventually a'U three Avere rescued m 0. state of complete exhaustion, having beon 30 minutes m tho water. There was a l»eavy sea running, the weather being cold, and the deck of the trawler covered with. ico. • A Altogether 857 oases of gallant action* were investigated by the committee, an. increase of 18 over the previous year. Of those who received awards 126 were between 9 and 15 years old, while 10 were over 60, and one was well over 70 years of age. _____________