Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards, (1 August 1914 – 5 August 1982) was a senior officer in the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
,
Governor of Western Australia
The governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the monarch of Australia, currently King Charles III. As with the other governors of the Australian states, the governor of Western Australia performs constitutiona ...
, and an
Australian recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Serving as a bomber pilot in the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
(RAF), Edwards was decorated with the Victoria Cross in 1941 for his efforts in leading a bombing raid against the port of
Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. He became the most highly decorated Australian serviceman of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
.
Born in
Fremantle, Western Australia, Edwards joined the
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
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in 1935, and a year later was granted a short service commission with the RAF. Serving throughout the Second World War, he gained a permanent commission and continued his career in the RAF after the war; he retired in 1963 with the rank of air commodore. Returning to Australia, he was appointed Governor of Western Australia in 1974.
Early life
Edwards was born in
Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 August 1914, the third of five children to Welsh parents Hugh, a
blacksmith
A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, gr ...
and
farrier
A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if necessary. A farrier combines some blacksmith's skills (fabricating, adapting, and adj ...
, and his wife Jane (née Watkins), who had emigrated to Australia in 1909. Named after his father, he was always referred to by his middle name of Idwal in his family. Edwards received his initial education at White Gum Valley School, before attending the Fremantle Boys' School where he achieved well academically, although he later claimed this was due to a good memory rather than high intelligence. However, Edwards was reluctantly forced to leave school at the age of fourteen as the family finances could no longer support him.
Described as a "shy, under-confident, introspective and imaginative lad" at this stage in his life,
he gained employment as a shipping office clerk.
With the onset of the
Great Depression, Edwards found himself unemployed, before gaining a job with a horse racing stable in Fremantle. His position entailed him taking the horses to the beach each morning for a swim, grooming them, and attending the twice weekly race meetings; a lifelong interest in horse racing consequently emerged at this time.
After later working for a brief period in a factory, he enlisted in the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA), wh ...
in March 1934 and was posted to the 6th Heavy Battery,
Royal Australian Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, normally referred to as the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), is a Regiment of the Australian Army descended from the original colonial artillery units prior to Australia's federation. Australia's first ...
, with the rank of
private. During this period, Edwards was an active sportsman, excelling in
Australian rules football—where he played six matches with leading
Western Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League (WAFL) is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The league currently consists of ten teams, which play each other in a 20-round season usually lasting from March to September, ...
(WAFL) club
South Fremantle—and
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...
with the Fremantle garrison team.
Early Air Force career
In 1935, he was selected for flying training with the
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
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at
RAAF Point Cook
RAAF Williams is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base set across two locations, at Point Cook and Laverton, located approximately south-west of the Melbourne central business district in Victoria, Australia. Both establishm ...
, after which he transferred to the RAF, being granted a short service commission as a
pilot officer on 21 August 1936. Posted to No. 15 Bomber Squadron, he was appointed adjutant of
No. 90 Squadron in March 1937, flying
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War, with examples still being used as trainers until ...
bombers. He received a promotion to
flying officer on 21 May 1938.
In August 1938, Edwards was piloting a Blenheim near the
Scottish border when he flew into a storm at . When the
ailerons
An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around ...
froze, the aircraft was forced down to and Edwards ordered the navigator and rear gunner to bail out of the aircraft. Down to , he made an effort to jump clear, but his parachute became entangled with the bomber's radio mast pylon. In the ensuing crash, he sustained head injuries and a badly broken leg, which was only saved after extensive surgery, which left that leg shorter than the other. After the accident, he was declared unfit for flying duties until April 1940, when he was posted to
No. 139 Squadron for active service due to the outbreak of war.
He was promoted to
flight lieutenant on 21 May 1940.
Second World War
In May 1941, Edwards became
commanding officer of
No. 105 Squadron replacing the previous incumbent, who had been killed in an anti-shipping raid on Stavanger. At that time, the Squadron was engaged in a series of daylight operations against Germany and the occupied countries, with its principal targets being enemy shipping, power installations, shipbuilding yards, locomotives, steelworks and marshalling yards.
On 15 June, by now an acting wing commander, Edwards led six Blenheims on a search for enemy shipping and soon sighted a convoy of eight merchantmen anchored near
The Hague
The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital o ...
. He launched an attack at low level, his bombs striking a 4,000-ton ship. He was subsequently awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for this action.
On 4 July 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 voltage power lines. 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 and his own Blenheim (serial V6028) had been hit over 20 times. His actions in the raid earned him the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
.
The full citation for Edwards' Victoria Cross appeared in the ''
London Gazette'' on 22 July 1941, it read:
![Edwards investiture SUK10172](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Edwards_investiture_SUK10172.JPG)
In July 1941, Edwards took the Squadron to
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
, in order to conduct operations against
Axis
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
* Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...
shipping carrying reinforcements from Italy to
Tripoli and
Benghazi. The unit remained in the area until October, when they returned to Britain. Participating in a goodwill mission to the United States, he was appointed chief flying instructor at Wellesbourne Mountford, (Number 22 Operational Training Unit) in January 1942, before re-assuming command of No. 105 Squadron on 3 August.
During this time, Edwards married Cherry Kyrle "Pat" Beresford; the pair were later to have a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Sarah.
He was promoted to temporary wing commander on 1 September.
On 6 December 1942, Edwards participated in a daylight bombing raid on the Philips Factory at Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Despite heavy opposition, the bombers successfully damaged or destroyed many of their targets, with two gun posts being silenced. Several members of the raid were decorated, including Edwards, who was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
; becoming the first airman to receive the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross in the Second World War.
Promoted to acting
group captain, he assumed command of the bomber station at Binbrook in February 1943, where, despite his senior position, he continued to participate in operations.
On 18 August, he was promoted to war substantive wing commander.
With the end of the European campaigns in sight, Edwards was transferred to the
Pacific theatre, first to
Ceylon as Group Captain, Bomber Operations. In January 1945, he was
mentioned in despatches, and appointed the senior administrative staff officer at Headquarters,
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command (SEAC) was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during the Second World War.
History Organisation
The initial supreme commander of the theatre was General Sir A ...
; serving in this position until the conclusion of the war.
Later career
![Hughie Edwards medal group](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Hughie_Edwards_medal_group.jpg)
Edwards continued his career in the post-war RAF, and was granted the substantive rank of
squadron leader
Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is als ...
from 1 September 1945. Posted as a staff officer at Air Headquarters,
Malaya, from November 1945 until February 1946, he served with the Netherlands East Indies Forces for a short period before returning to Malaya as air adviser to the
General Officer Commanding. In September 1945, he was posted as
station commander at the RAF Base in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera''
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; he remained there until May 1947,
and was awarded an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services in south-east Asia.
Returning to Britain in June 1947, he undertook a six-month course at the
Staff College
Staff colleges (also command and staff colleges and War colleges) train military officers in the administrative, military staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career. For e ...
, before receiving a two-year posting as senior personnel staff officer of No. 21 Group, Flying Training Command. Promoted to
wing commander
Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...
on 1 July 1947, his next posting was as the senior instructor on the leadership course at
Digby, Lincolnshire. Subsequently, he was appointed station commander at
Wattisham
Wattisham is a village and civil parish near to the town of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. From the 2011 Census the population of the parish was 110, according to the ONS, included in the civil parish of Hitcham, Suffolk, Hitcham.
Wattisham Air ...
,
Suffolk. He was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1954. Edwards was the Station Commander of the RAF base
RAF Habbaniya
)
, location = Habbaniya
, country = Iraq
, image = Habbaniya airfield, circa 1941.jpg
, alt = A black and white image of some hangars, tentage and hard standings in a desert
, ...
in
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
during the
Suez Crisis of 1956, and also the critical time of the
Iraqi Revolution of 14 July 1958. He returned to Britain on 21 October 1958 to command the
Central Fighter Establishment,
West Raynham, with the acting rank of
air commodore.
Awarded a
Companion of the Order of the Bath in the
1959 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 1959 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 30 December 1958 to cele ...
, he was promoted to the substantive rank of air commodore on 1 July 1959, and appointed as an
aide-de-camp to
Queen Elizabeth II in March 1960.
His final appointment with the RAF was as Director of Establishments at the Air Ministry, London, from January 1962 until his retirement on 30 September 1963.
Later life and governorship
![Statue of Hughie Edwards in Fremantle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Statue_of_Hughie_Edwards_in_Fremantle.jpg)
Returning to Australia, Edwards became the Australian Representative for
Selection Trust.
In 1966 his wife, Cherry, died; he married Dorothy Carew Berrick in 1972. The pair were said to complement each other well, as Dorothy limped on her left leg after being knocked over by a car on a crosswalk in Sydney in 1970, while Edwards limped with his right after his flying accident in 1938.
In 1974, Edwards relinquished his position as the Australian Representative for Selection Trust and was appointed
Governor of Western Australia
The governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the monarch of Australia, currently King Charles III. As with the other governors of the Australian states, the governor of Western Australia performs constitutiona ...
. He was sworn in on 7 January 1974, and appointed a
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) the following October.
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
Labor
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the la ...
State government of the day, led by
John Tonkin
John Trezise Tonkin AC (2 February 1902 – 20 October 1995), popularly known as "Honest John", was an Australian politician.
A member of the Labor Party, he served as a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for a record 44 ...
had a policy of not recommending Imperial Honours. However, the Tonkin Government was defeated in April 1974 and the incoming
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
Premier, Sir
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, (29 September 1911 – 22 December 2007) was a Western Australian politician, and the 21st Premier of Western Australia from 1974 to 1982. He was a member of the Liberal Party.
Early life
Court's family e ...
, was happy to make the necessary recommendation.
While Governor, Edwards' first official role was to christen
Alan Bond's
America Cup challenger, ''Southern Cross''. One of the couple's first visitors to the Governor's estate was a man by the name of Thomas Dunhill, who had consumed ten beers and wanted to see the house. Lady Edwards apparently found him in the pantry; he was arrested by the police but no charges were laid.
Ill health forced Edwards to resign his vice-regal appointment on 2 April 1975,
and he and Lady Edwards went to live in Sydney, where he continued in semi-retirement with commercial interests.
On 5 August 1982, while on his way to attend a Test match at the
Sydney Cricket Ground, Edwards unexpectedly collapsed and died; his ashes were buried in the
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, the first being that of wheelwright Robert Creighton. Managed by the Metropolitan Ce ...
, Perth, after a State Funeral and cremation at
Northern Suburbs Crematorium in Sydney. His Victoria Cross is on display at the
Australian War Memorial,
Canberra, and on 26 November 2002 a life-size bronze statue depicting Edwards was unveiled by then
Governor of Western Australia
The governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the monarch of Australia, currently King Charles III. As with the other governors of the Australian states, the governor of Western Australia performs constitutiona ...
,
John Sanderson, in
Kings Square, Fremantle
Walyalup Koort, formerly known as Kings Square (or King's Square), is a town square in Fremantle, Western Australia. It is bounded by Queen, Newman, William, and Adelaide Streets. Though the square was originally a public reserve, it has been ...
. The Hugh Edwards Ward at
Hollywood Private Hospital has been named in his honour.
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Hughie
1914 births
1982 deaths
Military personnel from Western Australia
Australian Army soldiers
Australian aviators
Australian World War II pilots
Australian World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross
Burials at Karrakatta Cemetery
Australian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Australian Companions of the Order of the Bath
Governors of Western Australia
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire
People from Fremantle
Australian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Royal Air Force air commodores
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
Royal Air Force recipients of the Victoria Cross
Royal Australian Air Force officers
Australian rules footballers from Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club players