South Yorkshire Times, December 15, 1951

Brave Kilnhurst Rescuer

Jumped Into Canal Lock

The part played by a dog in the rescue of a four-years-old boy from the Dearne and Dove Canal at Kilnhurst was described at Rotherham West Riding Court on Monday, when three men were awarded Royal Humane Society certificates for saving the boy’s life.

The men were William Hart, crane driver, of 36, Charles Street, Kilnhurst, who received the Society’s Testimonial on Parchment ; George Schofield, crane fitter, of 58, Crossland Street, Swinton, and Farewell Harrison, works ambulance officer, of 21, Oxford Street, Roman Terrace, Mexborough, both of whom received Resuscitation Certificates.

The citation stated:

“Shortly after mid-day on Friday, July 6th, 1951, Mrs. Prince, wife of the lock-keeper at Kilnhurst, heard her son, Harold, aged four years, who was outside playing with their dog, shouting and the dog barking. She thought the boy was playing with the dog. Suddenly, the dog went running into the house and jumped up at Mrs. Prince, got hold of her dress and started to pull her out of the house. She went to the’ door and saw her four-year-old boy in the canal where the water is 15 feet deep.

She was terrified and screamed.

“Mr. Hart, who was sitting outside Baker and Bessemer’s Works. Kilnhurst, some 40 yards from the canal, heard the scream, ran to the canal bank and saw the child had fallen into the canal between the lock gates. “With complete disregard for his own safety, Mr. Hart jumped fully clothed into the water and succeeded in bringing the child to the side.” Mr. Schofield and Mr. Harrison also came on the scene and immediately applied artificial respiration to the semi-conscious child for some 25 minutes until he regained consciousness after which he was taken home.”