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Name: Harold Leslie Edwards
Distinguished Flying Cross [DFC]
Military Medal [MM]
Harold Edwards
Country: Canada
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Service: Royal Air Force
Unit: 20
Victories: 21
Born: 28 April 1893
Place of Birth: Franktown, Ontario, Canada
Died: 15 June 1951
Place of Death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 
 
A chauffeur from Ontario, Harold Leslie Edwards joined the army on 16 December 1915. Wounded on 8 April 1917, he transferred to the Royal Air Force after serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France and Belgium. As an observer flying Bristol Fighters with 20 Squadron, Edwards was credited with downing 21 Fokker D.VIIs before he was wounded in action, taking a bullet through the lungs on 21 October 1918. When the war ended, he returned to Canada and became a car salesman.
 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
2nd Lieut. Harold Edwards. (FRANCE)
   When on offensive patrol, during 16th September, this officer with nine other machines, engaged twelve enemy scouts. In the combat that ensued he destroyed one, his pilot accounting for a second, and they took part in destroying a third. In all 2nd Lieutenant Edwards has accounted for nine enemy machines, setting an excellent example of gallantry worthy of high praise.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 30 Jul 1918 1930 20 Bristol F.2b (D7915) 1 Fokker D.VII (DESF) NE of Bailleul
2 21 Aug 1918 1920 20 Bristol F.2b (E2158) 2 Fokker D.VII (DES) N of Menin
3 05 Sep 1918 1520 20 Bristol F.2b (E2467) 3 Fokker D.VII (DES) SE of Cambrai
4 06 Sep 1918 0845 20 Bristol F.2b (E2181) 3 Fokker D.VII (DESF) St. Quentin
5 06 Sep 1918 0845 20 Bristol F.2b (E2181) 3 Fokker D.VII (DESF) St. Quentin
6 07 Sep 1918 1810 20 Bristol F.2b (E2181) 3 Fokker D.VII (DES) NE of St. Quentin
7 15 Sep 1918 1120 20 Bristol F.2b (E2154) 4 Fokker D.VII (DES) St. Quentin
8 15 Sep 1918 1120 20 Bristol F.2b (E2154) 4 Fokker D.VII (OOC) St. Quentin
9 16 Sep 1918 0815 20 Bristol F.2b (E2154) 4 Fokker D.VII (DES) NE of St. Quentin
10 16 Sep 1918 0820 20 Bristol F.2b (E2154) 4 Fokker D.VII (DES) 5 NW of St. Quentin
11 16 Sep 1918 0821 20 Bristol F.2b (E2154) 4 Fokker D.VII (DES) St. Quentin
12 23 Sep 1918 1815 20 Bristol F.2b (E2213) 6 Fokker D.VII (DES) NE of St. Quentin
13 23 Sep 1918 1818 20 Bristol F.2b (E2213) 6 Fokker D.VII (DESF) NE of St. Quentin
14 23 Sep 1918 1820 20 Bristol F.2b (E2213) 6 Fokker D.VII (OOC) NE of St. Quentin
15 24 Sep 1918 1600 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DES) SE of St. Quentin
16 25 Sep 1918 1815 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DES) NE of St. Quentin
17 25 Sep 1918 1815 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DESF) NE of St. Quentin
18 25 Sep 1918 1820 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DES) E of Bellenglise
19 29 Sep 1918 1020 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (OOC) N of St. Quentin
20 29 Sep 1918 1025 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DES) N of St. Quentin
21 29 Sep 1918 1025 20 Bristol F.2b (E2536) 7 Fokker D.VII (DES) N of St. Quentin

1 Pilot Lt Paul Iaccaci
2 Pilot Lt John Colbert
3 Pilot Capt Horace Lale
4 Pilot Lt William Thomson
5 Shared with Lt A R Strachan & Lt D M Calderwood (C951)
6 Pilot Lt Nicholson Boulton
7 Pilot Capt Geoffrey Hooper
 
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