HONOUR FOR DEAD HEROES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 619, 22 March 1929, Page 14

HONOUR FOR DEAD HEROES

GAVE LIVES FOR OTHERS KAWHIA DROWNING TRAGEDY (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Thursday. Medals and memorial certificates of the Royal Humane Society were presented to the families of the late Mr. T. Dillicar, of Hamilton, and Mr. Clarence Hunter, of Te Awamutu, who sacrificed their lives at Kawhia on January 10, in an endeavour to rescue bathers from drowning, by the Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, in the Town Hall today. Mrs. H. Turbott, a sister of Mr. Dillicar, was present, and received the society’s awards. The medal and the certificate awarded in connection with Mr. Hunter’s bravery were handed to his sister, Miss Eileen Hunter. In making the presentations Mr. Fow said he knew of no greater bravery than the gallant acts performed by the late Mr. Dillicar and Mr. Hunter. They went into the surf, not merely once, but a second time, and although they did not come back on the second occasion they had covered themselves and their district with glory. There was no greater sacrifice a man could make than to lay down his life that his fel-low-beings might live, and this both Mr. Dillicar and Mr. Hunter had done. Mr. Dillicar and Mr. Hunter were on the ocean beach at Kawhia, when two small boys got into difficulties while bathing in the surf. The two men, with Mr. lan Selby, went to their assistance. Mj\ Dillicar brought both the boys ashore. Mr. Hunter then was seen to be in trouble, and Messrs. Dillicar and Selby returned to help him. Mr. Dililcar reached Mr. Hunter, but they could not regain the shore. Mr. Dillicar disappeared and was not seen again. A number of girls formed a chain and drew Mr. Selby to the beach. They returned to assist Mr. Hunter, who was struggling in the surf, and were within a few yards when a wave swept him out to sea.