WA Born VC Winners
Series
No. 4 in the
series of 9 caches plus a Bonus Box -
K&C 039.
Collect all the clues from each of the 9
caches to gain the CO's for the Bonus Box.
The clues are located on the back of the log
books, and are in the format of A = * B = * etc...
There are prizes for the 1st few cachers who complete the
series. Please only take one prize. Inside the
Bonus Box is 1 certificate for an event coin, gift vouchers,
an "Australia Remembers 1945 - 1995" coin/penny(donated by
AmstradKid) and other goodies.
Acting Wing Commander
Hugie Idwal Edwards VC
DOB: 1 Ausgust
1914
Place Of Birth: Fremantle, WA
Hughie Edwards was born at Fremantle,
Western Australia, and joined the RAAF in 1935 before transfer to
the RAF. He was appointed to command No. 105 Squadron in 1941. On 4
July 1941 Edwards led 12 twin-engine bombers in a low-level attack
on the heavily defended port of Bremen. The aircraft had to fly
under high-tension wires, through a balloon barrage, and into
intense fire. All his bombers were hit, and four were shot
down.
In 1943 Edwards became commanding officer
of the bomber base at Binbrook, Lincolnshire, where No. 460
Squadron, RAAF, was based. The most highly decorated Australian of
the war, Edwards also had a distinguished civil career, including
an appointment as Governor of Western Australia,
1974–75.
Edwards was awarded the Victoria Cross, the
Distinguished Service Order, the Order of the British Empire, the
Distinguished Flying Cross, service medals for the Second World
War, and coronation and silver jubilee medals for Queen Elizabeth
II. His honours include the Knight Commander of the Order of St
Michael and St George, the Companion of the Order of the Bath, and
the Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
The Victoria
Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for
acts of bravery in wartime. It was instituted in 1856 by Queen
Victoria and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the
Crimean War. It is possible for any serving member of the armed
forces to obtain this award. The Victoria Cross is designed in the
form of the Maltese Cross: in the centre of the medal is a lion
guardant standing upon the Royal Crown. The words "For valour" are
inscribed below. The Victoria Cross is suspended from a crimson
ribbon. On the reverse of the cross the date of the act of bravery
is inscribed, along with the name, rank, and unit of the
recipient.
Aknowledgments: Australian War
Memorial