Harold Edwards
Sheila Warner’s Father & Sue Warner’s Grandfather
My father Harold joined the Royal Flying Corps on 25th October 1915 when he was, according to his service record, 21 9/12 years old. I was always aware that he had served in the 14/18 war as he was a member of the British Legion for many years. However in common with other men he said very little about his time in the war. He did tell us that he served with the balloons where, according to his service record, he reached the rank of Sergeant – Rigger, going up in the balloons for observation purposes and being responsible for their preparation & flying.
My father told me that his friend agreed to take him up on a mission in one of the new aeroplanes the base had just acquired, on the appointed night father was told to take his balloon up so wasn’t able to accompany his friend; father got back to base that night, his friend didn’t. Another family story is that he saw the last cavalry charge the British Army ever made, I don’t know if this is true or not.
The Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 so father served with the RAF for one year until he was demobbed on 5th March 1919.
The original exhibition display: Harold Edwards |