Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 5, 1977
• Invested on: June 23, 1978

Richard Allan Smith, M.B., Prince Rupert, B.C.
Medal of Bravery

Twelve-year-old Richard Smith saved his grandfather from drowning off the Queen Charlotte Islands on 13 August 1976. The sixty-seven year old man had fallen overboard while putting out the stabilizers of his fishing trawler. Seeing this, Richard switched off the engine and raced to stern. Grasping his grandfather's arm, he pulled him alongside and, when the victim began to slip, fastened a rope around his waist. With the man secured to the boat, Richard then lowered a skiff into the water and manoeuvred it to his grandfather. The semi-conscious victim was helped into the skiff and then into the trawler. With equal presence of mind the boy then signaled for help to other boats in the area.