On 23 May 1963 at about 2210hrs a Seaman S Smith, who was serving on board the RFA Wave Prince which was berthed in Hong Kong Harbour, was sitting on the second uppermost guardrail on the starboard aft upper deck in the company of Assistant Cook Arthur Boyle when Seaman Smith lost his balance and fell overboard from a height of approximately 15 feet into the harbour.

Assistant Cook Boyle immediately dived into the sea and after a considerable amount of effort in a one knot tide managed to support Smith who apparently was struggling in keeping afloat. Assistant Cook Boyle then managed to grasp one of three lifebelts that were thrown and got Smith into the same; they ultimately reached the ship’s gangway. Neither Smith nor Boyle appeared the worse for their immersion. There was no evidence of shock and one hour later both stated they ‘felt fine’.

On 5 February 1964 the Royal Humane Society announced that their Committee had awarded Assistant Cook Arthur Boyle a Testimonial on Parchment for his courage and humanity in having saved life

For saving a fellow crew member’s life Arthur Boyle is truly a ‘Hero of the RFA’

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