Coates N – 1921
BB Gazette Vol.29 No.7 – The Boys’ Brigade Cross for Heroism has been awarded to Privates Norman Coates and Harry Case, of the 8th Dublin BB Company, for an act of conspicuous gallantry in saving the life of a small boy called Brady from drowning in a dangerous gully on the seashore, near Dublin, called ”Curley’s Hole.”
The boy and his sister were bathing when the strong current carried the girl into the hole where she disappeared. Her brother went to be assistance, but he too got into serious difficulties. The frantic mother appealed to several men to help, but, not being able to swim, they were powerless to render aid. The two brigade boys, who were playing near by, heard the mother’s cries and immediately dived into the water, and after a severe struggle succeeded into rescuing the boy. The young girl had already been drowned and her body was afterwards found some distance away. Privates Coates and Case were only thirteen years of age and had learned to swim in The Boys’ Brigade.