In the serene landscapes of Somerset, where beautiful rivers meander through the countryside, a dark chapter unfolded in the history of the River Frome.

May 2, 1932, is etched in memory as a day of sorrow when four schoolboys met a tragic fate in the usually peaceful waters.

The day began like any other for Tony Horsfield, aged 11, Charles Sharland, 12, Harold Moore, celebrating his ninth birthday, and Stanley Edwards, aged 9. After school, they gathered at Willow Vale, drawn to the swollen river after heavy rains. Playing on the remnants of an old water wheel, their adventure turned tragic as the structure gave way, plunging them into the treacherous river.

The River Frome, swollen by rains that had raised it eight feet in mere hours, had become a perilous force. The currents, roaring at an estimated 20mph, transformed the river into a maelstrom of foam and fury.

At 4.45pm, the boys, alongside their friends, ventured onto a crumbling old bridge, remnants of a water mill. In a heart-stopping moment, the bridge collapsed, dragging five boys into the raging torrent. Miraculously, one was saved.

Eleven-year-old Dennis Moore, facing certain peril, was heroically rescued by his friends Danny Johns and Leslie Alcock. They reached out from the bank, clutched his arm, and determinedly held on.

The community's response was immediate. PC Harold Olpin, in a brave but futile effort, dived into the swirling waters, fully clothed. He was swept along, narrowly escaping the same tragic fate as the boys, thanks to his cape catching on the riverbank.

Eyewitness Dennis Johns recounted the chilling scene, describing the boys' initial laughter turning to terror as they were swept away.

The community, shocked and heartbroken, rallied around the search efforts.

It wasn't until 6 am the next day that the bodies were recovered, each discovery a new wave of grief for the town. Tony Horsfield was found near the Welsh Mill Hatches, Stanley Edwards in fields beyond the gasworks, followed by Harold Moore and Charles Sharland.

In recognition of his valiant efforts, PC Olpin received the King's Police Medal for bravery. The town mourned collectively, with a massive turnout for the funerals of the young lives lost to the River Frome.