BB Gazette Vol.77 No.5 – The Boys’ Brigade Cross for Heroism has been awarded to Derek Robert Triplett for rescuing a Boy in danger of drowning. In July 1968, a group of Boys were fishing at the Middle Pier, Granton Harbour, when the youngest member (nine years old) and a non-swimmer, slipped and fell into the water, about four feet below. Without hesitation Derek jumped, fully clothed, into the harbour, reached the Boy and got him back to the pier.

In his efforts to raise the Boy from the water to the pier platform, Derek was submerged a number of times, but with the assistance of another member of the group, managed to get the Boy to safety.

Stedfast Magazine 188 – The BB’s top award, the Cross for Heroism, the first for three years, is awarded to a Boy who kept silent for many months about what he had done. It was in July, 1968, that Derek Triplett, of the 64th Edinburgh, then aged 11, was fishing with other Boys at the Middle Pier, Granton Harbour, when the youngest member of the party, aged nine, a non-swimmer, slipped and fell into the water, four feet below.

Without hesitation, Derek jumped fully clothed into the harbour, reached the Boy, and got him back to the pier. In his efforts to raise the Boy from the water to the pier platform, Derek was submerged a number of times, but with the assistance of another member of the group, managed to get the Boy to safety. Derek had only limited swimming experience.

The Company Captain only heard of the incident a few weeks ago, when he saw in the newspaper of a presentation to citizens of Edinburgh who had carried out brave deeds during the year, and that Derek had been highly praised by the Chief Constable.

The Boy rescued by Derek has joined the Company’s Junior Section, and his brother has applied to join the Company Section.