Star of Courage
Awarded on: 1972-10-19
Invested on: 1973-06-22
Sidney Harris, S.C. (posthumous)
Star of Courage
On July 17, 1968, while engaged in helping to save the life of his employer, Sidney Harris died in an underground oil storage tank at Cainsville, Ontario. The two men were occupied in cleaning the interior of a 10,000 gallon storage tank when the victim, overcome by the fumes, became unable to climb out of the tank. Although Mr. Harris had earlier suffered from exposure to the fumes in the bunker, he went to the assistance of his employer. Entering the tank, he fastened a rope around the man and while another employee hauled on the rope, Mr. Harris helped the victim climb up the ladder. Thus, the man's life was saved but the incident ended in tragedy when Sidney Harris himself lost consciousness and died shortly after being pulled from the tank.