BB Gazette Vol.34 No.3 – The Executive have awarded the Cross for Heroism to Corporal Frank Harwood, 1st Walton-on-Naze Company, for conspicuous courage in rescuing a Boy from drowning at the imminent risk of his own life. Harwood was playing cricket on the beach at the time, when he heard that a Boy had fallen off a groyne nearby, and was being carried out to sea. Harwood immediately rushed to the scene and dived in to the rescue. He succeeded in reaching the Boy, and swam back against a very strong current, reaching the groyne in an exhausted condition.

Perthshire Advertiser 9^th December 1925 – The Boys’ Brigade Cross for Heroism has been awarded to a young English boy, Corpl. Frank Harwood, of the 1^st Walton-on-Naze Coy. For conspicuous courage in rescuing a boy from drowning at the imminent risk of his own life. One evening a few months ago some children were fishing from the far end of the pier at Walton, on the Essex coast, when suddenly one of them – a boy of eleven – fell into the sea, and, being unable to swim, was soon carried swiftly away by the current. Several people saw what had happened, and one or two men began to undress preparatory to attempting a rescue. Frank Harwood was playing with some of his Boys’ Brigade chums at cricket on the shore, and, seeing what had happened, without a moments hesitation, he ran down the pier, plunged in and seized the drowning boy. He then began to swim against a strong tide with the young boy who was unconscious. After an exhausting swim Howard was in considerable difficulties himself, but, when he nearly reached safety, an observer jumped in and assisted him, and so the childs life was saved. There is no doubt that Frank Harwood, at the age of fourteen, was given the opportunity of doing a piece of practical Christian service, and he took it in both hands in a way that was a credit to the BB.