BB Gazette Vol.41 No.10 -The boys’ Brigade Cross for Heroism has been awarded to Private Alec Hurley, aged 15, of the 62nd London Company, for rescuing a small Boy from drowning at St. Saviour’s Dock, Bermondsey, on the 28th of March 1933.

Alec Hurley was employed near the dock, and while on a message for his firm was informed by a child that a little Boy had fallen into the dock. On running to the spot Alec saw the youngster in the water and, without taking off any clothes, he dived in. Although he knew that the water was 9 ft. deep, with a very thick, muddy bottom. Alec succeeded in reaching the child, but was unable to get him up the steep sides of the dock, and he had to shout for help until he was heard by some passers-by, who managed to help both Boys out. But for Alec the child would undoubtedly have been drowned, and Hurley’s own life would almost certainly have been lost too, had he not succeeded in attracting attention.

At the 1933 Royal Albert Hall Display – Prince Arthur of Connaught pinned the cross for heroism  on Private Hurley personally while the whole of the vast audience stood in eloquent silence only to be broken with rounds of thundering applause as the boy returned to the ranks.