Brave Denaby Man – Disregard For Own Safety

March 1956

South Yorkshire Times March 3, 1956

Brave Denaby Man
Total Disregard For Own Safety in Wath Rescue

the Royal Humane Societys Testimonial on Parchment was last Friday presented at West Riding Court to a 44-year-old warehouse manager, Mr Sidney George Charlesworth, of 55, Firbeck Street, Denaby Main, for rescuing a five years old by from the canal at Wath on Dearne.

This certificate was presented by the chairman Mr G Brough.

The citation, readby Inspector WH Wainwright, said that at about 10:45 am on August 5th, 1955, the boy, Henry Dyson, of 7 Coronation Road, Wath on Dearne, was playing with a companion, aged eight, on the bank of the canal near Station Road bridge.

The boy slipped and fell into the canal. His friend attempted to help him by holding a stick out to him but was unable to reach the boy in the water.

Mr Charlesworth, who was coming along the canal bank, saw the child about 10 feet from the bank under the water. “Without hesitation and without removing any clothing, Mr Charlesworth jumped into the canal. By wading and swimming, he managed to reach the by, brought him to the surface and pulled him to the edge of the water where the other by assisted in lifting Henry Dyson to the bank,” the citation read. “Mr Charlesworth acted with such speed that the rescue occupied only a few minutes.” Mr Charlesworth then took the by home. “Without doubt the child owes his life to the prompt action of Mr Charlesworth who entered the water under difficult circumstances with a total disregard for his own safety.”