Three: Aircraftman Second Class H. G. Edwards, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his role in the extinguishing of a fire in an ammunition convoy at 21 O.T.U., Moreton in Marsh, in May 1944

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, with Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to ‘H. G. Edwards Esq. “St. David’s” Merthyr Road, Llwydcoed, Aberdare, Glamorgan’, good very fine (3) £100-£140

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1945.

Bomber Command Command Routine Orders A.84 from Air Chief Marshal Sir A. T. Harris, K.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C., states: ‘At 22.55 hours on the night of 15 May 1944, a large lorry which formed part of an American ammunition convoy caught fire and was halted on the Chipping Norton / Moreton-in-Marsh road immediately opposite the Officers’ Mess of No. 21 O.T.U. This lorry and other lorries in this convoy were loaded to capacity with shells which were live and fuzed.
The Fire Tender proceeded immediately to the fire, reaching it within the space of about a minute and a half. On arrival the lorry was found to be on fire from front to rear and the flames were enveloping the whole of the load of shells which were enclosed in the usual wooden crates. At great personal risk to themselves and with full knowledge of this danger and of the risk to personnel and Air Force property that would ensue on the explosion of any of this ammunition, the Fire Piquet proceeded to use both “Froth” to damp down the flames and water to cool the burning load of shells, and eventually put the fire out in the space of from 9 to 10 minutes...
The prompt action of the Fire Section was not only instrumental in possibly saving a number of lives, but also in the saving of R.A.F. property which undoubtedly would have been destroyed had an explosion occurred. The action taken by all concerned is highly commended.’

Hugh Gore Edwards enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 25 May 1942, and served until his release to Class A Reserve on 12 April 1946. He died on 24 January 1975, at Aberdare.

Sold with the recipient’s original Mention in Despatches Certificate named to ‘Aircraftman 2nd Class H. J. [sic] Edwards, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve’; original transmittal envelope for the M.I.D. Certificate, named to ‘1417977 Aircraftman 2nd Class, Edwards H. J.’; original copy of H.Q. Bomber Command Routine Orders A.84, dated 27 May 1944, referring to the incident when the fire crew from No. 21 O.C.T.U., including the recipient, gallantly extinguished a fire in an ammunition convoy at Chipping Norton / Moreton in Marsh, on the night of 15 May 1944; original copy of letter from H.Q. Bomber Command to the recipient enclosing a personal copy of the Bomber Command R.O. A.84, referring to the incident and stating it to be from the Commander in Chief, Bomber command and ‘a record of his appreciation for their fortitude, courage and perseverance’; original Royal Air Force Service and Release Book, R.A.F. (Form 2520A, Airman), named to L.A.C. 1417977 Edwards, H.G.; and an original ‘The Aeroplane’ Aircraft Identification booklet ‘How to tell friend from foe’, London December 1939, inscribed in ink with the recipient’s name, containing numerous photographs and silhouettes of of Allied and Axis aircraft.