South Yorkshire Times, July 21st 1933

Swinton Canal Drama

Boy Rescued By Cripples

A drama on the bank of the South Yorkshire Navigation Canal at Swinton on Saturday morning occurred when Horace Thompson (9), son of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. 5, Foundry Yard, Swinton, in company with another boy, was fishing at Bowbroom Locks, which at the time, were almost full.

Thompson was leaning over the side of the lock when he overbalanced and fell into the water. The screams of his companion brought to the scene Ernest Hanwell (19). 11, Bridge Street, Swinton, an assistant surveyor at Denaby Main Colliery, and George Scholes, 2, Bridge Street, Swinton, milk salesman employed by the Barnsley British Co-operative Society.

Throwing off his cap, Hanwell said, “I’ll risk it,” and immediately dived into the water and succeeded in bringing Thompson to the side of the lock where Scholes pulled them to safety.

Hanwell came out of Fullerton Hospital. Denaby, a week ago after being treated for thirteen weeks with a severely crushed leg. Scholes’s arm is paralysed through a cut extending from the palm of his right hand to the middle of the forearm, and he underwent considerable pain in pulling out of the water both Hanwell and Thompson.

Thompson quickly recovered from the shock of his immersion and told his father, “Break my fishing rod up. I’m not going near the water anymore.” When seen this week by a “Times” reporter. the boy’s parents expressed deep gratitude to their son’s rescuers and were sorry they were not in a position to reward them. Hanwell’s bravery certainly ought to be brought to the notice of the authorities.