Ian Gillies, a twelve*-year-pld boy from Gourock, has been awarded an inscribe wrist watch for an act of exceptional gallantry. He has also received a franm letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Captain 'th Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N. As a result of Ian Gillies' action the liva of two boys were saved.

About 4.30 on the afternoon of 3ist May, 1964, a small pram dingny, manne* by three boys, put out from a yacht owned by Mr. Angus Hick and made foi the shore some 200 yards away. The pram dinghy was too heavily laden, an* as soon as she left the lee of the yacht she was in difficulties in the choppy sea.

Mr. Hick shouted to the boys to turn up into the wind and sea and retum to the yacht. They tried to do so, but the dinghy was swamped and sank, and the three boys were left struggling in the water.

Mr. Hick immediately dived from the yacht, but he too was soon in difficulties.

Ian Gillies had been securing his dinghy to a mooring about ten yards off the Admiralty jetty at Gourock, and as soon as he saw what had happened 4fl began to row to the help of the people in the water. There was a moderate, east-north-easterly wind with a moderate sea. It was high water.

By the time Ian reached the scene Mr. Hick was unconscious and two of the boys were struggling in the water and trying to support him. The third boj had managed to swim back to the yacht.

Ian manoeuvred his dinghy towards Mr. Hick and succeeded in pulling him half out qf the water and over the gunwale. He then told the two boys to support themselves, one on either side of the dinghy. The danger that the.dinghy would capsize was considerable. , A few minutes later a launch manned by two men from the yacht Ocaw Valkyrie also put Out to the rescue, and when the launch reached Ian Gillies' dinghy Mr. Hick and one of the boys were taken on board. The other boy, was helped into. lan's dinghy, and all were landed ashore at about 4.50. Mr.

Hick was then found to be dead.

In addition to the award made to Ian Gillies letters of thanks were sent w Mr. James Allan and Mr. 'Russell Graham, who had manned the launch from the 'Ocean Valkyrie,.