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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 20

A Good Second War 1943 'Malta, Nightfighter Ace's' D.F.C. Group of Five to Squadron Leader H.G. 'Nick' Edwards, Royal Air Force, Recommended For the George Medal For Saving a Cadet From a Burning Aircraft in 1941; He Went On To Fly With Distinction Over Malta; Claiming 4 Of His 7 Victories in 11 Nights, He Was Killed in an Air Crash Over Malta, 6.5.1943
a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1943' and additionally engraved 'Nick H.G. Edwards', in Royal Mint case of issue
b) 1939-1945 Star
c) Air Crew Europe Star
d) Africa Star
e) War Medal, extremely fine, in card box of issue, the remains of the torn address label reading 'Edwards ... [M]on.', with the following related documents:
- Memorial Scroll, named to 'Squadron Leader H.G. Edwards Royal Air Force', in original envelope
- King's Commendation for Brave Conduct Certificate, named to 'Flight Lieutenant H.G. Edwards, Royal Air Force', and dated 1.1.1942
- Air Council enclosure for the campaign stars and medal, named to 'Squadron Leader H.G. Edwards' (lot)

D.F.C. London Gazette 16.2.1943 Flight Lieutenant Henry Grahame Edwards (36227), No. 89 Squadron
'Flight Lieutenant Edwards has displayed exceptional ability during night flying operations and has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft. During July and August, 1942, 22 enemy aircraft were destroyed by a detachment of his squadron while under his command. Throughout, this officer has shown courage, resource and devotion to duty of a high order.'

K.C.B.C. London Gazette 1.7.1941 Flight Lieutenant H.G. Edwards (36227) (Acting)

K.C.B.C. London Gazette 1.1.1942 Flight Lieutenant H.G. Edwards (36227)

Also Recommended (jointly with Squadron Leader J.C.M. Lunn) for the George Medal, Acting Flight Lieutenant Henry Grahame Edwards (36227), No.3 S.F.T.S., South Cerney
The Recommendation states: 'On the night of 5th March, 1941, at Bibury, a Cadet flying solo in Oxford P.1832 damaged his undercarriage on a wall when attempting to land. He carried on for another circuit and had commenced to glide in when the aircraft went out of control from a height of 200 feet. The aircraft was considerably damaged and the port engine immediately burst into flames, on impact with the ground.
Flight Lieut. Edwards, who was acting as Relief Officer i/c Night Flying, immediately proceeded to the scene of the accident. On his arrival the port wing was well alight, the oil tank having burst, and both auxiliary and main petrol tanks, which were full, were exposed to the flames. The port side of the fuselage was also burning strongly. The impact had broken off the port airscrew blades, but the engine was still running at full throttle, and the draught created by the airscrew stubs was fanning the flames and spreading the fire rapidly.
Flight Lieut. Edwards, without hesitation, entered the aircraft and endeavoured to extricate the pilot. The pilot, who was in a stunned condition, so far from assisting Flight Lieut. Edwards, struggled violently and refused to leave the controls, and it was not until the arrival of Squadron Leader Lunn that it was possible to force the pilot out of the aircraft. During the time this was taking place the flames were increasing in violence and at any moment the petrol tanks might have exploded.
I consider that Flight Lieut. Edwards displayed outstanding courage and coolness in rescuing the pilot under conditions of extreme danger to himself.'

Covering Remarks of Air Officer Commanding (Air Vice-Marshal K.R. Park): 'For his outstanding courage and gallantry in assisting the rescuing of a Pilot from a burning aircraft, this Officer is strongly recommended for the award of the George Medal'

Squadron Leader Henry Grahame 'Nick' Edwards, D.F.C., served during the Second War as a Pilot with 604 (Night Fighter) Squadron (Beaufighters), Middle Wallop, during 1941; posted to 89 Squadron (Beaufighters), Abou Sueir, Egypt, early the following year; he recorded his first success on the evening of the 30.5.1942, when he damaged a Ju 88 over Alexandria; on the 22nd June he led 'C' Flight to Malta on detachment, 'these aircraft were equipped with AI Mk IV radar and would operate in conjunction with the GCI station at St. Paul's Bay. The 'C' Flight detachment comprised:

Flt. H.G. Edwards and Sgt. J.R. Phillipson
Flg. Off. R.C. Fumerton and Sgt. L.P.S. Bing
Flg. Off. M.C. Shipard and Sgt. D.A. Oxby
Plt. Off. N.E. Reeves and Sgt. A.A. O'Leary

The two spare crews were Flg. Off. H.E. Mitchell and Sgt. J.G. Trebell and Plt. Off. J. Mck. Ross and Sgt. R.E. Thompson. 'Moose' Fumerton (a Canadian) already had four victories to his credit and Merv Shipard (an Australian) had one, while his radar operator, Sgt. Doug Oxby, was destined to become the RAF's top-scoring operator (See Spink Medal Auction 19th July 2012, Lot 5) (Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942, C. Shores and B. Cull refers)

Having been on the island for less than 24 hours the night fighters were immediately thrown into the action - this proved to be the start of a prolific two weeks for Edwards and Phillipson, 23/24.6.1942, 'just before midnight Flt. Lt. Edwards and Sgt. Phillipson in X7748 intercepted one of the 20 bombers plotted approaching the Island from the north. They claimed a Ju 88 probably shot down over the sea and were granted a 'confirmed' victory when news of a German aircraft down in the sea reached AHQ. Undoubtedly this was M7+BK of Kgr 806, in which Uffz. Herbert Wolenski and his crew were lost during this unit's attack on Luqa' (Ibid); the pair bagged another victory, 29/30.6.1942, 'Between 2245 and 2330, eight raiders were plotted around the coast, while three Beaufighters were up looking for custom. Sgt. Phillipson soon picked up a contact on his radar screen and led his pilot, Flt. Edwards, onto Fw. Winfried Pohler's KuFlGr 606 Ju 88 (7T+AL), which was shot down into the sea' (Ibid); Edwards and his radar operator accounted for another two enemy aircraft in one action, 3/47.1942, 'there had been an action over the Island when Flt. Lt. Edwards, on patrol in Beaufighter X7748/C, intercepted two flare dropping Ju 88s in quick succession at 0030. He shot down Lt. Oscar Kasimir's M7+GK of Kgr 806, which crashed in flames near Qawra Tower, St. Paul's Bay. He then chased the second, which he reported dived into the sea whilst attempting to avoid his attacks; this was undoubtedly 3Z+BM of 4/KG 77 flown by Uffz. Luitpold Martin, which also failed to return' (Ibid); on the 17th August Edwards was supposed to be released due to tour expiration - however, his replacement as commanding officer of 'C' Flight was taken ill on arrival; two days later, 'during the night Flt. Lt. Edwards took Air Vice-Marshal Park up in one of 89 Squadron's Beaufighters to observe the accuracy of the Island's searchlights. Around this time, Sqn. Ldr. Evans was released from hospital and took over command of the detachment from Edwards' (Ibid); Edwards remained with the detachment as second in command; on the 26/27.8.1942 Edwards was successful with a different crew member, 'with trade slackening off over Malta, permission had now been given for 89 Squadron to add a night intruder capacity once more, and to operate over Sicilian airfields and seaplane bases and against shipping. Hence, two Beaufighters were stripped of all special equipment, and at 2035 Flt. Lt. Edwards took off in X7695 with Plt. Off. Ross acting as his observer, on the first such mission. Edwards later reported:

'I patrolled off Marsala from 2200 to 2225, watching a flare path on the water. At 2225 an aircraft took off and climbed in a left hand turn. It had a quick-flashing white light on top. I closed in behind it and with full flap managed to stay there. From very close range I gave it two short bursts. Bits came off the wings, tail and hull. It stalled to the right and crashed just south of Marsala in a blaze which lit up the whole town.'

They claimed their victim as a Do 18 seaplane but it may possibly have been an Italian craft. Following the attack, Edwards went in low and strafed a motor vessel seen in Marsala harbour.' (Ibid)

On the 1st September Edwards managed to write off one of the new Mark VII AI equipped Beaufighters; however, he was back in action five days later for an attack on the 'Lambado Convoy' heading for Benghazi; the Axis convoy was escorted by 11 destroyers, and was too good a target to ignore, therefore a special operation was organised in which 13 torpedo armed Beauforts set off to attack the Italian convoy with a close escort and diversionary force of a dozen Beaufighters from 227 Squadron; to provide long-range fighter escort, 89 Squadron's four intruder Beaufighters were also pressed into service as top cover for the whole formation; the convoy had the additional protection of 6 Ju 88s, a flying boat and a number of fighters; Edwards reported engaging a Macchi:

As we turned towards the convoy, I saw three single-engined fighters approaching head on, slightly to port. I turned towards them and climbed. I attacked the nearest fighter, firing one long burst from quarter to beam. I saw bursts on the enemy fighter before I passed over the top of it. My last view of the fighter was with its wing vertical, turning away.' (Ibid)

Edwards returned to the main squadron based at Abu Sueir, towards the end of the year; based in Egypt Edwards went on to claim two further victories, a Ju 88, 21/22.12.1942 and another Ju 88 over Tripoli, 21/22.2.1943; promoted Squadron Leader and posted to the newly formed 108 Squadron (Beaufighters), March 1943; the squadron also absorbed 89 Squadron's detachment at Malta, and this led to a return to the Island for Edwards; he commanded the squadron's detachment and flying from Malta it was tasked with night convoy patrols and offensive patrols north of Tunisia; the command was short lived as Squadron Leader Edwards died in a crash, 6.5.1943, he is buried in the Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.

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Estimate
£4,500 to £5,500