Kenneth Farrow

Early life

He was born in Sedgefield, County Durham, the only son of William and Christina Farrow. He was educated at Sedgefield Junior School, and attended St Michael's School, Buckingham Palace Road, after he and his family moved to London.

After working as a shop assistant from 1938 to 1942, he joined the RAF in 1942. He served as a rear-gunner on Lancaster bombers with No. 218 Squadron, operating from Suffolk on missions over northwest Europe, and was eventually promoted to Flight Sergeant. It was during his time in the RAF, in 1944, that he met and married his wife, Joan Chittenden.

After his service ended, he joined the Cardiff City Police, later the South Wales Constabulary, in 1947, and it was in this role he was awarded the Albert Medal, which he exchanged in 1972 for the George Cross. He was a road safety officer with the force for several years.

Albert Medal

On patrol on 21 June 1948, at around seven o'clock in the evening, he was alerted by a crowd of people that a four-year-old boy had fallen into the Feeder, an aqueduct supplying water to the Cardiff Docks from the River Taff.

He ran to the uncovered section where the boy had fallen in, removed his uniform and dived into the water, swimming under the covered section for around 180 yards (165 m) in search of the boy. Headroom dropped from two feet (65 centimetres) at the start of the covered point to around six inches (15 centimetres). It was impossible for Farrow to stand upright with his head above water level.

In addition to the pitch black darkness under the covered section, the water was black and heavy deposits sat on the bottom of the aqueduct. Farrow searched the area for fifteen minutes, but thought it was hopeless to venture downstream, and worked his way back to the uncovered section, with the current against him. He was not an excellent swimmer, and fingerholds in the slimy roof were uncommon, located only where slabs fitted together or were damaged.

He was exhausted after reaching the open air. The boy's body was later recovered from the water. He was highly praised for his determination and bravery both by witnesses and the coroner, and was awarded the Albert Medal in October 1948 by King George VI.

Later life

On retirement from the Police in 1972 as Sergeant, he joined the traffic management section of Glamorgan County Council.

In addition to the Albert Medal (and later the George Cross after the Albert Medal was revoked by Royal Warrant in 1972) he received the certificate of the Carnegie Hero Trust and the Police Exemplary Service Medal. During his retirement he lived in Llandaff, and enjoyed fly fishing and gardening. He gave his Albert Medal to the National Museum of Wales.