Hughie Edwards
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Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards, VC, DSO, DFC, (1914- 1982)) was a highly decorated Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force (RAF), and the Governor of Western Australia during 1974-1975.
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Early life
Edwards was born in Fremantle, Western Australia on August 1, 1914. 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 transfer to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and after training in Australia he was transferred to the RAF as a Pilot Officer.
Military service
On June 15 1941 Edwards led six Blenheim bombers on a search for enemy shipping and soon sighted a convoy of eight merchantmen anchored near The Hague. He led the attacking force in a daring low-level attack and his bombs struck a 4,000 ton ship. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions.
On July 4 1941 Edwards led a daylight attack against the important port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany, in which he won the Victoria Cross.
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 in 1975.
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. This followed some controversy following his wife's public comment that he was the only Australian state governor without a knighthood. 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, not to mention self-serving. Whether the Western Australian government felt under pressure to recommend a knighthood for Air Commodore Edwards only because of his wife's public statement, or whether such a process was already under way, the result was that before his term expired Edwards was knighted.
Edwards died on 5 August 1982 and was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, after a State Funeral. His Victoria Cross medal is on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
| Preceded by: Major-General Sir Douglas Kendrew | Governor of Western Australia 1974–1975 | Succeeded by: Air Chief Marshall Sir Wallace Kyle References
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