Edwards VC Rest Area
Majura, ACT
Federal Highway (M23)
At a Glance
Victoria Cross Recipient
Wing Commander Hughie Idwal Edwards VC
No. 105 Squadron RAF (RAAF secondment)
Hughie Idwal Edwards was born at Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 August 1914, the third of five children of Welsh immigrant parents. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1935 and a year later was granted a short service commission with the Royal Air Force. By 1941 he was serving as Acting Wing Commander commanding No. 105 Squadron RAF, flying Blenheim medium bombers from England.
On 4 July 1941, Edwards led a formation of twelve Blenheim bombers in a daring low-level daylight raid against the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. Flying without cloud cover, the aircraft were exposed to devastating anti-aircraft fire from the outset. All twelve bombers were hit and four were shot down, but Edwards pressed home the attack at extremely low altitude, personally leading the formation through a storm of flak. His own aircraft was struck more than twenty times, yet he continued to his target, bombed accurately, and brought his damaged aircraft safely back to England. His coolness, courage, and leadership were an inspiration to the entire squadron.
Edwards was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and the Distinguished Flying Cross during his wartime career. After the war he served as Governor of Western Australia from 1974 to 1975. He died on 5 August 1982 at the age of sixty-eight. Edwards remains the only Western Australian-born recipient of the Victoria Cross to have also served as a state governor.
Born 1 August 1914, Fremantle, WA. Died 5 August 1982, Sydney, NSW.
References
Remembrance Driveway
Stop 20 of 20 along the Remembrance Driveway
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- Newton VC Rest Area
- Edwards VC Rest Area
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EPIC (Exhibition Park Campground)
$? · 4.6km