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 Boy Life-Saver at West Mersea. - Percy Atkins, aged nine (shown on right) had been sliding on ice this week at West Mersea with Alfred Cudmore, aged six (on left), when the ice gave way and Cudmore was immersed. Atkins, with some courage and presence of mind, crawed along the broken ice and grabbed Cudmore's collar, bringing him safely to the bank. Deep water and mud endangered the life of both ...
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Boy Life-Saver at West Mersea. - Percy Atkins, aged nine (shown on right) had been sliding on ice this week at West Mersea with Alfred Cudmore, aged six (on left), when the ice gave way and Cudmore was immersed. Atkins, with some courage and presence of mind, crawed along the broken ice and grabbed Cudmore's collar, bringing him safely to the bank. Deep water and mud endangered the life of both boys.

A PLUCKY RESCUE - An extraordinary case of heroism in a young child has just come to light. It appears that on February 20 three small boys and a little girl were playing in the brickfields owned by Messrs. C.M. White and Co., were a deep pool was frozen over. One of the lads, Albert Cudmore, aged 6, ventured upon the ice, and when about two yards from the bank the ice gave way and the boy fell into the water. He was out of his depth but managed to cling to the broken edges. One of his companions, Percy Atkins, aged nine, who was standing on the bank, went out on the ice, caught Cudmore by the collar of his overcoat, and managed to drag him to the bank. Cudmore was dressed in heavy winter clothing, including water boots and an overcoat. The spot has since been examined by Capt. Toombs, the head school-master, and it is found that the pond is about four feet deep, with a bed of heavy mud, and if Atkins, who is a small chap for his age, had fallen in he must certainly have been out of his depth. Capt. Toombs presented Atkins with a 10s. note on Monday morning from Cudmore's parents, and has also drawn the attention of the Royal Humane Society to the deed. On Wednesday Atkins received a further 10s. 6d. from a donor who desires to remain anonymous, and an offer of free uniform, etc., should he desire to join the local Wolf Cub Pack.

Cuttings above from David Mussett Scrapbook 2 Page 1.

The story eventually reached the Daily Mirror 29 March 1929 with a photograph of Percy and his schoolfellows, saying "Nine-year-old Hero - Percy Atkins, aged nine, chaired by his schoolfellows of the West Mersea Council School, Essex, after receiving a presentation for rescuing a boy who fell through the ice on a deep pool."
The photograph was posted in Facebook 5 July 2021, and we got some more information on Percy: Betty McNeil commented:

There are quite a lot of nieces and nephew's on the island. Percy and our mother Vera were Brother and Sister a total of 9 children altogether.

Joan Crawford commented on the post:

Percy was my Uncle and came from a large Family. His Mother, my Grandmother, was a Mersea local whose family were the Russell's. After growing up in Mersea and serving in the RAF during the war he spent most of his adult life on the Isle of Wight. He and his wife Kath had 3 sons two of whom still live on the Isle of Wight. The third one in Lincolnshire. Percy was as, my cousin, Betty above says was an extremely nice and genuine person. I have never known about this story and there is no one of that era from the Atkins family still alive. Remembering what a kind and selfless person Percy was it is no surprise that even as a child he would have carried out this act. Fancy! West Mersea making the National Newspapers in the 1920's. It must have been quite a story as Mersea was very much a backwater then.

Albert Ed. Cudmore was born 19 Nov 1922. In 1927 he was living in Melrose Road. The 1939 Register shows him at The Anchorage, High Street, working as a Grocers Assistant.

For a picture of some of the Atkins family, including Percy, see FL07_017_003


Date: 20 February 1929      

Photo: David Mussett Collection
Image ID DM1_AB2_001_006


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This image is part of the Mersea Museum Collection.