Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 24, 1973
• Invested on: November 30, 1973

Garfield George Babcock, S.C. (posthumous), Weston, Ont.
Star of Courage
Police Constable Joseph O'Hagan, M.B., Toronto, Ont.
Medal of Bravery

Garfield George Babcock lost his life in a vain attempt to help the two brothers who drowned on April 15, 1972 when their canoe capsized in the Humber River, Toronto. Cst. Joseph O'Hagan of the Toronto Metropolitan Police Department also made a valiant effort to save one of the victims. When the young canoeists shot over a weir on the river, their craft overturned. Mr. Babcock, who witnessed the accident, ran to the river bank and waded towards the victims. He continued out into the water in spite of the turbulence until he was caught by the force of the current and dragged to his death. When Cst. O'Hagan arrived on the scene, the canoeists had been carried some distance down stream. He managed to grasp one of the bodies, but in the fast-moving water he lost his grip. When he saw that there was no hope of overtaking the victim, Cst. O'Hagan abandoned the rescue attempt and was helped from the treacherous water by a bystander.