Mexborough and Swinton Times June 18, 1937

Schoolboy Hero
Child Rescue From Canal

Ronald Hague, a 13 year old schoolboy, of John St, Mexborough is the town’s hero this week.

Ronald was playing cricket with some other boys in the Old Foundry Yard near the Canal Bank on Monday night, when he had some smaller children shouting.

Ronald went to investigate and found that a boy four years old Roy Travers, of Glass House Lane, had fallen into the canal. Throwing off his jacket, trousers and boots, he dived into the water and brought the child to safety to the bank.

But for his prompt action the child would undoubtedly have drowned, as there was no adult nearby.

Ronald, who is the only swimmer in the party, attends Dolcliffe Road School and visits the Denaby baths regularly with the school party, but has never had life-saving instruction.

A “Times” reporter, who visited Ronald at his home, found him a most modest hero. When asked how he had managed to the chart the side of the bank, he simply replied, “I don’t know, I just did it.” Ronald’s uncle is the well-known Mexborough Boxer, “Iron” Hague.

On Tuesday Ronald had a great surprise at school, when before his schoolmates he was formally presented with a parcel. The parcel been brought by Mrs Travers, mother of the rescue child, and contain clothing to compensating for the damage done to his own clothes in making the rescue.

The brave act received the commendation of the Mexborough Urban Council at their meeting on Wednesday, when it was decided to draw the attention of the Royal Humane Society to the rescue.

On the recommendation Mr G.S.Morley, they decided to send a letter of congratulation to the boy.