Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1982-04-13
Invested on: 1982-06-29
Mildred Byrne, M.B.
Sea Cadet Michael Hilton, M.B.
Dorothy Hugues, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On the mid-afternoon of 23 October 1980, Mildred Byrne, Michael Hilton and Dorothy Hughes rescued an elderly couple from a burning house in Lethbridge. Mrs. Byrne responded to the cries of the man and ran to call the fire department. Mrs. Hughes arrived to assist the victim, who had returned inside, and found the eighty-four-year-old invalid woman semi-conscious in the living room. Eighteen-year-old Michael Hilton answered Mrs. Hugues' call for help, and without concern for their lives dragged the woman towards the front door. When Mrs. Byrne returned amidst the smoke and flames, all three of the rescuers combined efforts to carry the victim to safety. Unfortunately the woman died in the hospital two weeks later.