A PLUCKY RESCUE

Meet my great, great uncle Elijah Southall :-)

Birmingham Daily Gazette - Tuesday 25 July 1916

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000669/19160725/138/0005

A PLUCKY RESCUE The story of a plucky rescue from drowning came to the knowledge of the Smethwick police yesterday. Elijah Southall, Glover-street, West Bromwich, was in Brasshouse-lane when saw a child in the canal. He jumped from the parapet of the bridge, but unfortunately dropped onto the embankment and sustained serious injury to his ankle. He had the presence of mind, however, to slide down the bank and rescue the child, a girl named Nellie Maull, aged 6, Melbourne-avenue, Smethwick. 

Evening Despatch - Tuesday 25 July 1916

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19160725/054/0003

A PLUCKY RESCUE. The story of plucky rescue from drowning came to the knowledge of the Smethwick police yesterday. Elijah Southall, of Glover-street, West Bromwich, was in Brass house-lane, when saw child in the canal. He jumped from the parapet of the bridge, but unfortunately dropped to the embankment and sustained serious injury to his ankle. He had the presence of mind, however, slide down the bank and rescue the child, a girl named Nellie Maull, aged 6, of Melbourne-Avenue, Smethwick.

Smethwick Telephone - Saturday 29 July 1916

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002897/19160729/018/0002

Jumped Over Canal Bridge to Save Drowning Child. 

The Police are making enquiries with regard to a very plucky rescue from drowning which occurred near Brasshouse Lane bridge, a few days ago. 

It appears that Elijah Southall, of Spon Lane, was passing along the bridge when he noticed a child drowning in the canal. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped over the parapet. He did not drop into the water, but onto the embankment and sustained some injury. However, he had the presence of mind to continue the work of rescue and he succeeded in pulling a child named Nellie Maull, aged 6 years, of 25, Melbourne Avenue, from the water. The girl had suffered very much from the effects of her immersion but recovered with the kindly attention of residents in the locality. Southall does not appear to have made any great show of his bravery, but made his way home as best he could. He has since been suffering from a badly sprained ankle, it being thought at one time that the limb was broken.