BRAVERY AWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 10

BRAVERY AWARD.

HONOUR FOR SCOUT.

RESCUE FROM DROWNING.

The gilt cross of the' Roy Scout Association for gallantry has .been awarded to Ralph Watkins, aged 13, a member of the Calliope Sea Scouts, for the rescue of a boy from drowning off the Devonport beach on April 7. The Dominion headquarters of the Scout movement in Wellington has received advice that the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, has approved the award. Ralph and his brother Colin were swimming from a raft moored about 50 yards from the shore. Another boy, Rex Cubitt, started to swim to the raft, but

[ tired when. midway and sank. Ralph dived in &nd secured the boy." By applying life-saving methods Ralph brought the boy to shallow water and a stranger assisted the. two exhausted lads to the beach. The sea was Choppy at the time, and but for the splendid resourfte" shown by Scout Watkins the. lad would probably have lost his life. Watkins, who resides at 26, Calliope Road, Devonport, had been a member of the Scouts for 12 months at the time and received his tuition in life saving from the troop instructor, Mr. A. J. McDougal, of the North Shore Swimming and Life Saving Club. The three gallantry awards of the Scout Association are the bronze cross, with a red ribbon; the silver cross, with a blue ribbon; and the gilt cross, with a blue ■ and red ribbon.