Hughie Edwards

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Hughie Edwards
1 August 1914 – 5 August 1982 (aged 68)

Wing Commander Hughie Edwards
Place of birth Fremantle, Western Australia
Place of death Perth, Western Australia
Service/branch Flag of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force
Years of service 1933–1963
Rank Air Commodore
Battles/wars World War II
Awards • Victoria Cross
• Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
• Companion of the Order of the Bath
• Distinguished Service Order
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Venerable Order of Saint John
• Mention in Despatches
Other work Governor of Western Australia

Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards VC, KCMG, CB, DSO, OBE, DFC, KStJ (1 August 1914 – 5 August 1982), was an Australian pilot who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The most highly-decorated Australian serviceman of World War II,[1] he was later appointed Governor of Western Australia.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Edwards was born in Fremantle, Western Australia. After leaving school he worked for a time as a shipping office clerk before joining the Garrison Artillery as a private in 1933. In 1935 he was selected for flying training with the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Point Cook, after which he transferred to the RAF as a Pilot Officer. A serious air crash in 1938 kept him out of action until the beginning of World War II.[2]

[edit] World War II

In May 1941 Edwards was made Commanding Officer of No. 105 Squadron RAF replacing their squadron commander who had been killed in an anit-shipping raid on Stavanger. On 15 June 1941 he led six Blenheim bombers on a search for enemy shipping and soon sighted a convoy of eight merchantmen anchored near The Hague. He launched an attack at low level, his bombs striking a 4,000 ton ship. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

On July 4, 1941 Edwards led a daylight attack ("operation Wreckage") against the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily-defended towns in Germany. Edwards' force of twelve Blenheims attacked at a height of about 50 feet through telephone wires and high tension cables. The bombers successfully penetrated fierce anti-aircraft fire and a dense balloon barrage, but further fire over the port itself resulted in the loss of four of the attacking force. Edwards brought his remaining aircraft safely back, although all had been hit. His actions in the raid won him the Victoria Cross.[2]

[edit] Later life

Edwards retired from the RAF as an Air Commodore in 1963. He was appointed Governor of Western Australia in 1974, but was forced to retire due to ill-health the following year.

In addition to his war medals, Edwards received the OBE in 1947, was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1959, and was knighted in 1974. He was mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records for the numbers of official post-nominal letters after his name. His knighthood involved some controversy following his wife's public comment that he was the only Australian state governor without such an honour. As knighthoods were then conferred by the Queen on the recommendation of her Federal and State governments, and the Governor was the Queen's representative in the state, this was seen as highly inappropriate, especially given the Western Australian ALP State government of the day, led by John Tonkin had a policy of not recommending conferral of Imperial Honours. The matter was resolved insofar as Tonkin Government left office in April 1974 and the incoming Liberal Premier, Sir Charles Court was happy to make the necessary recommendation.

Edwards died on 5 August 1982 and was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, after a State Funeral. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

[edit] Honours and awards

Sir Hughie's honours and awards are as follows:




Government offices
Preceded by
Major-General Sir Douglas Kendrew		 Governor of Western Australia
1974–1975		 Succeeded by
Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace Kyle

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ de Mori, Caroline. "Tribute to Sir Hughie." Air Force News, 23 May 2002 Tribute Access date: 16 June 2007
  2. ^ a b Sir Hughie Edwards at Australian War Memorial. Access date: 16 June 2007.
Bibliography
  • Buzzell, Nora. The Register of the Victoria Cross. London: This England Press, 1997. ISBN 0-906324-27-0.
  • Harvey, David. Monuments to Courage: Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones. London: Kevin & Kay Patience, 1999, ISBN 1-84342-356-1.
  • Hoyle, Arthur. Hughie Edwards VC: The Fortunate Airman. Canberra, Australia: Mulini Press, 2001. ISBN 0-95776-810-9.
  • Laffin, John. British VCs of World War 2: A Study in Heroism. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited, 1997. ISBN 0-7509-1026-7.

[edit] External links