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Constable Farrow joined the
Cardiff City Police on 7 February 1947. He was then a poor swimmer, but he obtained his Life Saving certificate and medallion a few months later. He is not yet a strong swimmer, but unhesitatingly risked his life under conditions which would have daunted even the strongest
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He ran to the uncovered section where the boy had fallen in, removed his uniform and dived into the water, swimming under the covered section for around 180 yards (165 m) in search of the boy. Headroom dropped from two feet (65 centimetres) at the start of the covered point to around six inches (15
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Although the child's body was not recovered till later, Constable Farrow greatly exhausted himself in the search and in the ordeal of making his way back against the current, with very little facility for obtaining a proper handgrip. According to witnesses, he was in the waters of the Feeder and
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The Feeder is an aqueduct running under concrete slabs and supplying water from the River Taff to
Cardiff Docks. It was uncovered at the spot where the child fell in. The speed of the current was about six miles an hour and, whereas headroom at the end of the concrete covering is 2 feet 2 inches
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In addition to the pitch black darkness under the covered section, the water was black and heavy deposits sat on the bottom of the aqueduct. Farrow searched the area for fifteen minutes, but thought it was hopeless to venture downstream, and worked his way back to the uncovered section, with the
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The incident occurred at about 7 p.m. when
Constable Farrow was on police patrol duty. He saw a number of persons running, and, on enquiry, was informed that a child had fallen into the Feeder. He at once ran to the place, divested himself of his police clothing, dived into the Feeder and swam
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In addition to the Albert Medal (and later the George Cross after the Albert Medal was revoked by Royal
Warrant in 1972) he received the certificate of the Carnegie Hero Trust and the Police Exemplary Service Medal. During his retirement he lived in
238:(where the accident occurred) it decreases till it is only six inches. The water is black with a considerable amount of mud or silt at the bottom, and it is not possible to stand up in the water with head above water level.
139:, the only son of William and Christina Farrow. He was educated at Sedgefield Junior School, and attended St Michael's School, Buckingham Palace Road, after he and his family moved to London.
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He was exhausted after reaching the open air. The boy's body was later recovered from the water. He was highly praised for his determination and bravery both by witnesses and the
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On 21 June 1948, Constable
Kenneth Farrow of the Cardiff City Police Force attempted to rescue a four-year-old boy from drowning in the Feeder, Pembroke Terrace, Cardiff.
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current against him. He was not an excellent swimmer, and fingerholds in the slimy roof were uncommon, located only where slabs fitted together or were damaged.
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On patrol on 21 June 1948, at around seven o'clock in the evening, he was alerted by a crowd of people that a four-year-old boy had fallen into the Feeder, an
347:"Police Sergeant Kenneth Farrow, GC: Cardiff constable who risked his life under hazardous circumstances in a perilous attempt to save a child from drowning"
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The KING has been pleased to award the Albert Medal to
Constable Kenneth Farrow in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances: â
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After working as a shop assistant from 1938 to 1942, he joined the RAF in 1942. He served as a rear-gunner on
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Constable Farrow's gallantry was commended by the
Coroner and highly praised by the witnesses of his action.
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On retirement from the Police in 1972 as
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underneath a long concrete covering for a distance of about 180 yards in search of the child.
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centimetres). It was impossible for Farrow to stand upright with his head above water level.
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underneath the concrete slabs for about a quarter of an hour, in pitch darkness.
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After his service ended, he joined the
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on missions over northwest Europe, and was eventually promoted to
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16:For the American football player, see
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314:"Kenneth Farrow, GC"
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324:. Retrieved
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404:2007 deaths
399:1924 births
373:"No. 38431"
281:fly fishing
38:29 May 1924
393:Categories
291:References
263:Later life
187:River Taff
133:Sedgefield
127:Early life
77:Occupation
42:Sedgefield
246:swimmer.
93:Parent(s)
277:Llandaff
216:Citation
183:aqueduct
357:7 April
326:7 April
202:coroner
152:Suffolk
110:English
65:Cardiff
50:England
85:Spouse
146:with
69:Wales
359:2007
328:2007
71:, UK
58:Died
52:, UK
35:Born
160:RAF
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