Dog Flood Hero is Dead

A hero of the 1953 East Coast flood disaster is dead. He was “Sir George Bruce” and he was about 13.

“Bruce,” as he was affec­tionately known to many Islanders, was a Wiltshire-born Alsatian belonging to Mrs. Edith King, of Kingsville, Meynell Avenue, Canvey. The dog saved her life in the floods and also led her to about 20 people who were being given sanctuary in the roof of Leigh Beck Garage.

Mrs. King told our reporter this week: “During the sum­mer he slipped down a dyke and was rescued by two boys. The boys got covered in mud and I thought it was wonder­ful of them to save him.

“As a result of this experi­ence and, of course, his age, I very regretfully decided not to let ‘Sir George’ face the win­ter.”