25 Facts About Hughie Edwards

Hughie Edwards became the most highly decorated Australian serviceman of the Second World War.

Hughie Edwards was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 August 1914, the third of five children to Welsh parents Hugh, a blacksmith and farrier, and his wife Jane, who had emigrated to Australia in 1909.

Hughie 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, Hughie Edwards was reluctantly forced to leave school at the age of fourteen as the family finances could no longer support him.

Hughie Edwards's 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.

Hughie Edwards received a promotion to flying officer on 21 May 1938.

Hughie Edwards was promoted to flight lieutenant on 21 May 1940.

In May 1941, Hughie Edwards became commanding officer of No 105 Squadron replacing the previous incumbent, who had been killed in an anti-shipping raid on Stavanger.

Hughie Edwards launched an attack at low level, his bombs striking a 4,000-ton ship.

Hughie Edwards was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this action.

On 4 July 1941, Hughie Edwards led a daylight attack against the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany.

Hughie Edwards brought his remaining aircraft safely back, although all had been hit and his own Blenheim had been hit over 20 times.

In July 1941, Hughie Edwards took the Squadron to Malta, in order to conduct operations against Axis shipping carrying reinforcements from Italy to Tripoli and Benghazi.

On 6 December 1942, Hughie Edwards participated in a daylight bombing raid on the Philips Factory at Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Several members of the raid were decorated, including Hughie Edwards, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order; becoming the first airman to receive the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross in the Second World War.

Hughie Edwards continued his career in the post-war RAF, and was granted the substantive rank of squadron leader from 1 September 1945.

Hughie Edwards was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1954.

Hughie Edwards was the Station Commander of the RAF base RAF Habbaniya in Iraq during the Suez Crisis of 1956, and the critical time of the Iraqi Revolution of 14 July 1958.

Hughie Edwards returned to Britain on 21 October 1958 to command the Central Fighter Establishment, West Raynham, with the acting rank of air commodore.

In 1974, Hughie Edwards relinquished his position as the Australian Representative for Selection Trust and was appointed Governor of Western Australia.

Hughie Edwards was sworn in on 7 January 1974, and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George the following October.

Hughie Edwards's knighthood involved some controversy, following his wife's public comment that he was the only Australian state governor without such an honour.

Lady Hughie Edwards apparently found him in the pantry; he was arrested by the police but no charges were laid.

Ill health forced Hughie Edwards to resign his vice-regal appointment on 2 April 1975, and he and Lady Hughie 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, Hughie Edwards unexpectedly collapsed and died; his ashes were buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, after a State Funeral and cremation at Northern Suburbs Crematorium in Sydney.