Medals of floods hero firefighter go on display

Fred Sadd saved families who were trapped in homes in Gorleston-on-Sea

A relative of a hero firefighter who saved dozens of people from flood waters has said he hopes his medals will be displayed permanently.

The North Sea flood on 31 January 1953 killed more than 300 people along the East coast.

Fred Sadd is credited with saving 27 people in Gorleston-on-Sea, in Norfolk.

His medals are due to go on display at Great Yarmouth Town Hall on Tuesday for the 70th anniversary.

Mr Sadd, who lived in Caister-on-Sea, is believed to have plunged into the choppy waters before carrying families away from Bells Marsh Road on his back and shoulders.

He was awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II, and also the Exemplary Fire Service Medal and the Defence Medal.

Fred Sadd was awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II

Robert Price, 76, whose grandmother was the cousin of Mr Sadd, said he bid more than £10,000 to win them at auction in 2021.

"I feel very proud to have them and I’d rather have them on display than stuck in a cupboard," said Mr Price.

"The feats of bravery and the magnitude of the George Medal is not something that happens every day.

"It’s a privilege to have maintained the medals in the family rather than go to a collector," he said.

The collection is due to be at Great Yarmouth Town Hall from Tuesday afternoon until Monday 6 February.

Fred Sadd grabbed a fishing boat to save families trapped in homes

Mr Price added: "The hope is that we have an arrangement that they go on permanent display."

A 70th anniversary service is planned later at Great Yarmouth Minster.

The church is exhibiting documents about the floods, between 10:00 and 12:00 GMT daily, until Sunday 5 February.

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