Four Bidefordians Receive Certificates for Rescues

 

Four Bidefordians were on Monday presented with Royal Humane Society certificates on vellum in recognition of their prompt and courageous actions in local rescues.

The presentations took place at Bideford Borough Magistrates’ meeting and were made at the hand of the chairman, Mr. R.B. Blackmore, who on behalf of the magistrates and of the town warmly congratulated the recipients on their actions. “We are very proud to think that there are men in Bideford ready and able to maintain the traditions of courage which have characterised their predecessors in this ancient borough”, he said.

The awards were introduced by Police Inspector E.H. Turner.

The first award concerned a rescue from the River Torridge last August. The recipient of the testimonial in this instance, said the Inspector, was Mr. Charles Henry Davis, aged 22, a railway clerk, of 48, Torrington Street, Bideford. One summer night, at about 10.45, a certain soldier, who was subsequently convicted before that court, took a motor cycle from the Quay. In turning the Bridge corner while riding it, he collided with the parapet of the bridge with considerable force. The rider was thrown over the parapet into the river. Luckily for him Mr. Davis was near and immediately discarded his coat and shoes and waited until the man, who was semi-conscious, floated to a convenient position. He then jumped from the bridge into the water, a distance of some 15 feet, held the man up and did his utmost to bring him into shore. Against the strong tide he was unable to bring the soldier in near enough without further assistance and Able Seaman Wm. Quigley, of 106, Milton Terrance, Swansea (who is to receive a similar award at Swansea) jumped in and assisted Mr. Davis to bring the soldier to the steps. The soldier was brought safely ashore and was taken to hospital.

The other three awards arose out of the rescue of a child in difficulties at Abbotsham Cliffs in the summer of 1953. The recipients were Mr. Archie Mitchell, a 49-years-old mason, of 4, Stanhope Terrace, Bideford, and two 17-year-olds, Ian Rudkin, an apprentice compositor, of 3, Coldharbour, Bideford, and Eric Littlejohns, a glove worker, of 17, Lower Gunstone, Bideford.

The Inspector said a Mr. C.E. Hastings, his wife and their two sons, aged eight and five, were on the beach at Greencliffe, Abbotsham, when suddenly Mr. Hastings looked round and found that the two boys were attempting to climb the cliff. The younger boy was only a matter of a few feet up, but the older boy was some 30 feet up. The cliff at this point was roughly 70 feet high and was very dangerous, having loose soil. The older boy was in a distressed condition. His nerve had failed and he was beginning to panic. The parents endeavoured to get at the boy but were unsuccessful. Mr. Mitchell, who was nearby, prawning, endeavoured to make a direct ascent to rescue the boy and got up between 20 and 30 feet and then lost his foothold and slithered down, fracturing a muscle of his shoulder and receiving lacerations of both legs and an injury to his head. The two boys, Ian Rudkin and Eric Littlejohns, were also near at hand and they eventually got to the spot where the boy was and managed to get him down to safety without injury.

The facts of both rescues had teen reported to the Royal Humane Society, added the Inspector, and the Society had seen fit to recognise the actions of those concerned by making awards.

The chairman hoped the recipients would give their testimonials a place of honour in their home as a reminder of very courageous acts.

5 November 1954