| Citation: | United Kingdom. Citation for BEM: Sergeant Ridsdale was walking in a field adjacent to a camp at Eastham, when he was approached by an elderly clergyman who asked him if he could swim as a girl had fallen into the River Mersey and the current had taken her out to about twenty yards from the bank. The girl had already gone down twice and Sergeant Ridsdale at once divested himself of his tunic and dived into to resuce her. After a struggle during which the girl pulled Sergeant Ridsdale under the water, Sergeant Ridsdale managed to get her to the bank where with help they were pulled ashore. The river at the particular point is very treacherous owning to swift flowing tides and currents and, owing to it being high tide at the time, the rescue was carried out under extreme difficulties.National Archive WO 373/68 Pt.2. |
