I have recently acquired a copy of a D&G newspaper item about the drowning of an uncle, Robert IRVING (1893-1928) I thought I'd post it as some Listers might find it interesting reading and maybe someone might recognise one of the names mentioned. The event was described in such great detail - today a tragedy like this would probably only make a mention of a few lines. Dumfries & Galloway Standard & Advertiser, March 21 1928: A NITH TRAGEDY FATHER SACRIFICES LIFE FOR SON TWO GALLANT RESCUERS One of the saddest tragedies which has happened in Dumfries for many years occurred on Saturday afternoon, when a Maxwelltown man, Robert Irving living with his wife and two young children at Millbrae Terrace, was drowned in the Nith, having sacrificed himself in a heroic endeavour to save the life of his younger child, a boy of three years of age, who had accidentally fallen into the water. Two young men, William KIRKPATRICK and William SMITH, displayed great gallantry in jumping into the flooded river to the rescue of the father and the boy, and spectators of the drama speak in the highest terms of the bravery under circumstances of extreme difficulty. The accident happened about five o'clock. Mr Irving left his home in Millbrae in search of his two children - Thomas, aged four years, and William aged three years - who had been out playing. The children were not to be seen about the immediate vicinity of where they lived, and Mr Irving started in the direction of the Mill Green, fearing that they had wandered down to the river's edge. At the Mill Green the father met his elder son Thomas and another little boy companion coming away from the water side. There was no sign of the younger boy. Apprehensive of danger, the father looked over the banking into the river, and was horrified to see his son being swiftly borne away by the current. With a cry of alarm he immediately threw off his coat and plunged into the water, but owing to being a non-swimmer he was soon in difficulties. It is stated that the first person on the scene was a young man, whose identity has not been discovered, and who promptly ran to get life-saving tackle. This used to be kept near the entrance to the Mill Green, but it could not be discovered on Saturday. It is believed that if it had been available the occurrence would not have ended so tragically. Other help was forthcoming, however. A young man named William Kirkpatrick, a bookbinder, living in Millbrae Terrace, dashed from his home on hearing the cry that a child had fallen into the water, and ran towards Mill the Mill Green. Owing to the distance he had to run, and to the fact that his view of the river was at time interrupted, Kirkpatrick was unaware that the boy's father had already gone to the rescue of his son. When Kirkpatrick breathlessly reached the river's edge he entered the water and did his best to rescue the child. While he was struggling in the water he was surprised to find after he had got a grip of the child that there was also a man in the water in danger of drowning. Kirkpatrick made a very heroic endeavour to effect a double rescue, but his strength was unequal to the heavy demands made upon it and through exhaustion he was forced to make his to the banking. By the time another rescuer had arrived on the scene, a young telephone linesman, William Smith, who lives in Welldale Terrace. Smith had been watching a man fishing at the bottom of Mill Lade. He heard the cries of people who had witnessed the accident from the Dumfries side, and at once raced up the banking of the mill race and on to the Mill Green. He got to the riverside just when Kirkpatrick struggled out exhausted. Smith acted with much promptitude, and ,assuming a floating position in the water, he succeeded in getting Irving on to his chest, while clutching the little boy by the leg. He managed to get his two charges near to the banking, where a number of people had gathered all anxious to give what help they could. Owing to the discoloured state of the water and the swiftness of the current, it apparently was not possible for those on the bank to size up the situation correctly - that Smith was struggling not only to save the child but also to save the father. Someone on the banking lowered a muffler down the banking to Smith, and bringing the child with him, Smith was pulled to safety. Though he was pretty much done up owing to his exertions, Smith did his best to get those on the bank to realise that there was still a man to be rescued. Some confusion resulted, and Smith was assured that the man who had been in the water had already struggled ashore, and Kirkpatrick, who was standing some distance away with water dripping from his clothes, was pointed out to him. Smith persisted in his contention that there was still a man in the water, and it was only with difficulty that those on the banking were able to restrain him from again entering the flooded river. The hopelessness of the situation was evident in view of the state of the river. The child's condition was extremely critical when brought to the bank. Artificial respiration was resorted to by Miss L. MOWBRAY, Mr V. FISHER and other willing helpers, and the boy was removed to Mrs RAWSON'S house, where everything possible was done to ease his condition until the arrival of medical aid. The boy is now making good progress. So far the father's body has not been recovered. Owing to the very heavy floods on Monday and yesterday, there was little chance of dragging operations being conducted.