| He was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 31/10/1915) in Ottawa ON. He served in RNAS Chingford for Training 1915. He served in RNAS Eastchurch 09/04/1916; with No.3 (N) Wing, 30/04/1916 - 09/03/1917. He served in #11 (Naval) Squadron 19/03/1917 - 22/04/1917. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant (Temp.) RNAS (With seniority dated 01/04/1917). He served in #6 (Naval) Squadron 23/04/1917 - 18/07/1917. He served in #9 (Naval) Squadron (#209 RAF) Squadron as Bomber Pilot after 01/04/1918) 10/08/1917 - 10/11/1917 and again from 29/01/1918 - 23/05/1918 (leave in Canada between these two postings). He was appointed as a Flight Commander RNAS (With seniority dated 30/01/1918). (Transferred to RAF 1918.) He was appointed as a Captain RAF 1918. He served in #38 Training Depot Station as Flying Instructor 16/10/1918. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross "In recognition of his services on the following occasions:- On the 3rd September 1917, with his flight he attacked a two-seater Aviatik. The enemy machine was observed to go down in a vertical nose dive, and the enemy observer was seen to collapse in the cockpit. On the 21st September 1917 he drove a two-seater enemy machine down out of control. On the 23rd September 1917 he attacked an Albatross scout, which crashed into the sea. On the same date he attacked three Albatross scouts. One got on the tail of another officer's machine at very close range, shooting him up very badly. Flight Commander Edwards attacked him from above, and the enemy machine turned on its back and went down in a vertical dive. He followed the enemy machine down to 8,000 feet, when its wings came off, and it fell to the ground." He was awarded a Bar to Distinguished Service Cross "For conspicuous bravery and most brilliant leadership of fighting patrols against enemy aircraft. On the 2nd May, 1918, whilst leading a patrol of four scouts, he encountered a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drove down one enemy machine completely out of control. Soon afterwards he engaged another formation of six enemy scouts, driving down one to its destruction whilst his patrol accounted for another. He only broke off the fight owing to lack of ammunition. He has destroyed or driven down out of control many enemy machines since he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and has at all times shown the greatest gallantry and a fine offensive spirit." |
