Date of birth:

October 18th, 1915 (Leichhardt/New South Wales, Australia)

Date of death:

September 30th, 1955 (Concord/New South Wales, Australia)

Service number:

40045

Nationality:

Australian

Bill Edwards entered the RAAF in 1936. After receiving his wings he travelled to the UK and was awarded a short service commission in the RAF.
Posted to 211 Squadron on 8 January 1938 at RAF Grantham in Lincolnshire, he served some time in the Middle East, flying Hinds and ferrying Blenheims out to Palestine and the Suez Canal fow which he was decorated with the General Service Medal with Palestine Clasp.
At the outbreak of the war he was back in the UK, still on Blenheim delivery flights but was soon restationed to No. 107 Squadron, led by Basil Embry.
During a raid on the Maastricht bridges on May 12th, 1940, to prevent German Wehrmacht advancing, he and his crew were shot down by BF109's.
Injured and initially detained in hospital, PoW No 326 Edwards was later held at various camps throughout Europe including Stalag XXA Thorn Poland, Oflag VIB, Oflag XXIB, Stalag Luft III, and Stalag IV DZ Annaburg until September 1944 when he was repatriated. As his injuries and four years of imprisonment had deteriorated his health, he was rested until January 1945 when he was posted to the RAF School of Administration at Rivenhall and served until 1952 in administrative duties after which he repatriated to Australia.
Aged just 39, Bill Edwards died on 30 September 1955 at the Repatriation Hospital, Concord, New South Wales from that illness which had apparently been brought about by his injuries and four years in German Prisoner of War camps.

Promotions:
26 augustus 1937: Pilot Officer
26 mei 1939: Flying Officer
3 september 1940: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
3 mei 1945: Transfer to the Administrative and Special Duties Branche
3 september 1946: Temporary Flight Lieutenant - Equipment Branche
16 oktober 1945: transfer to the Equipment Branche
27 juni 1946: Extended service (4 years on the active list)
11 juni 1952: Transfer to Reserve

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

April 30th, 1940

Citation:
"In April, 1940, this officer was pilot of one of six aircraft which left to attack Stavanger aerodrome and seaplane base. The weather was so bad that five aircraft were compelled to abandon the task but Flying Officer Edwards succeeded in getting through, attacked the objectives and obtained valuable information. On the previous day he was pilot of one of twelve, aircraft ordered to attack the same objectives. Despite a heavy snow storm, which forced him to fly very low, he reached the target and attacked it in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire.
When returning he attacked a Dormer seaplane with his guns and scored hits. On both days this officer displayed great skill and determination, and courage of a high order."

• - The London Gazette Issue 34434 published on the 10 September 1937
  - The London Gazette Issue 34840 published on the 30 April 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 35083 published on the 21 February 1941
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37087 published on the 18 May 1945
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37423 published on the 4 January 1946
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37804 published on the 29 November 1946
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37878 published on the 7 February 1947
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39573 published on the 13 June 1952
  - No. 211 Squadron RAF