Hughie Idwal Edwards

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

EDWARDS, Hughie Idwal. (reg No. 372).

Wing Commander 105 Squadron. Royal Air Force.

London Gazetted on 22nd July 1941.

VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.

Born on 1st August 1914 at Fremantle, Western Australia.

Died on 5th August 1982 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Memorial on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.

Digest of Citation reads: On 4th July 1941 over Bremen, Germany, Wing Commander Edwards led a force of bombers, in daylight, at a height of about 50 ft through telephone wires and high-tension cables, to attack the heavily defended port. The bombers successfully penetrated a 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. His task completed, Wing Commander Edwards brought his remaining aircraft safely back, although all had been hit.

Additional information:. Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards was a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG), a Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB), the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the Order of the British Empire (O B E) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). From 1958-60 he was the Commandant of the Central Fighter Establishment; from 1960-63 he was Aide-de-Camp to her H M Queen Elizabeth II; 1962-63 he was Director of Establishments, Air Ministry. The Australian representative on the Selection Trust from 1964-74; and from 1974-75 he was Governor of Western Australia. He was also a Knight of the Order of St John.