A Boy Scouts Association Gallantry Cross, which was given to scout Gerald Glanfield Boyd for saving a man from drowning in Sidmouth in 1927, is now up for auction.

Gerald's daughter, Angela Boyd, got in touch with the Herald to tell the gallant story of her father.

She said: "My father was a boy scout on summer camp in Sidmouth, when he saved another Scout, who fell over the sea wall at high tide. 13-year-old Gerald leaped over the wall, swam out and brought Banks back to the shore - while the remaining Scouts tied their lanyards together... to make a rope to haul out the wet pair of Scouts."

A London newspaper described his efforts at the time as: "The gallant act of Scout Gerald Boyd in rescuing another boy scout named Banks from drowning in the sea at Sidmouth is to be suitably rewarded. Boyd is the twelve year old son of Dr Ezekiel Boyd of Seymour-place, Bryanston Square, and is on e of the most popular members of his troop.'

"The brave act which is to be thus honoured, was performed last August while Scout Boyd and other members of the Troop were enjoying a holiday at Sidmouth. Boyd was walking along the sea front when he heard a call and saw his comrade, Banks, about two years younger than himself, struggling in the water.

"Boyd saw him when he was 30 or 40 feet out, and realising the situation at once, he jumped eight or ten feet into the water, and by a gallant effort soon brought Banks to the water's edge. Three cheers for scout Gerald Boyd.'

Up for auction on the website AuctionNet, it comes with the original certificate signed by the Chief Scout, rolled in original postal tube, two press photographs of Boyd being held aloft by friends and school mates from St Marylebone Grammar School.

The site said: "A photograph of Boyd walking alongside Lord Baden Powell at the presentation ceremony at the People's Palace in East London. A Royal Life Saving Society award named to G.G. Boyd, 1931 and a swimming medal similarly named, 1926 and a third for being 'Diving Champion' in 1931. Also his Roamer wristwatch and an Africa Star medal ribbon. The family suggest that the watch battle-worn by their father, when an officer (Captain - then Major) in the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and thence (when the regimental numbers were reduced by battle losses at the Battle of Gazala in North Africa to only 5 men of whom, needless to say, he was one) in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry."

The auction site describes the condition of the medal: "It is on a frayed ribbon. Photographs with signs of handling and dents and slight tears to edges, scroll tightly rolled and with small splits to edges. Watch appears to work but is no way guaranteed."