Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 25, 1983
• Invested on: June 24, 1983

James Lethbridge, M.B.
Ralph Lethbridge, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

In the afternoon of 2 March 1981, Ralph Lethbridge and his son James were bird hunting in a seven-metre skiff, in Trinity Bay, near Port Rexton, Newfoundland. The fog was thick and the two had to steer by compass. Close to the rugged coastline they heard a man calling for help and, moments later, saw him standing on the bottom of an overturned aluminium boat, waving his arms. In spite of high breakers and dangerous shoals, which made the manoeuvre very hazardous, the Lethbridges proceeded toward the victim. With much difficulty they pulled the man into their boat; they then learned that the victim had been fishing with two friends when their boat capsized. Shortly thereafter they located a man lying prone in the shallow water but had to tow him further out to sea before they could safely haul the body aboard. Father and son continued searching for the third victim for more than a half-hour without success. As the rescued man was showing signs of hypothermia, they broke off the search and returned to shore. He recovered from this unfortunate incident.