Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Constable 1/c James Boyle in the act of rescuing a man attempting to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8, 1958. Photograph taken by Ray Saunders a Courier-Mail photographer. (PM1183)
On the 8th of February 1958, a twenty one year old man, intent on committing suicide, climbed over the railing of Brisbane’s old Victoria Bridge and out onto a wooden spar. Ray Saunders, a Courier-Mail Photographer, saw what was happening and called the Police.
When Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane and Constable 1/c James Boyle arrived on the scene a short time later, they found the man dangling by one arm from the end of the spar. Thinking quickly, Constable Boyle grabbed the man’s arm and held onto him for over 15 minutes, until other Police arrived with ropes. Using skill and great care, the ropes were tied around the man’s legs and he was hauled to safety.
Police Commissioner Frank Bischof congratulates Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Senior Constable James Boyle (middle), on the occasion of the presentation of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, on 7 August 1959. The medal was awarded to both officers for saving the life of a man who attempted to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8,1958. (PM1144a)
Constable 1/c James Boyle and Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane were both awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal for Gallantry for their courageous efforts on this day.
Obverse of British Empire Medal for Gallantry awarded to James Boyle.
The British Empire Medal for Gallantry was awarded from 14 January 1958 until its replacement with the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1974. It was awarded to people below management or professional level. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, and personnel below divisional officer level in the fire services. It was awarded for acts of gallantry (not in the face of the enemy) below the level required for the George Medal.
Governor Sir Henry Abel Smith inspects Senior Constable James Boyle’s British Empire medal while Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane looks on, 7 August 1959. (PM1144b)
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“From the Vault – Quick Thinking Police Rescue” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode