Superb pilot’s DSC group 1917 with three foreign decorations. AM1 in 1914 serving with Samson’s ~Armoured Cars, RNAS to Flt. Comm. (Col in WW2),Whilst on reconnaissance attacked by two enemy scouts both of which the recipient and his observer shot down during which he was three times wounded passing out on landing. Awarded an Order of Leopold with fine citation by the hands of the King of the Belgians in the hospital at la Penne

Distinguished Service Cross, (GV). (hallmarks for London 1917), 1914 Star, with clasp (A.M.1 GR. R.N.A.S.), British War and Victory Medals (Flt. Cr.  R.N.A.S.), India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (Burma Rys), 1939/45 Star, Burma Star, Defence and War Medals , Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division, Chevalier’s 5th Class breast badge, silver and enamel, Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre,  France,  Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1914-1917,

Distinguished Service Cross

L.G. 21/04/1917

Flt.-Lieut. (now act. Flt.-Cdr.) Charles Cyril. Rogers Edwards, R.N.A.S.
Sub-Lieut. Charles Keith Chase, R.N.V.R.
In recognition of their services on the 1st March 1917, when they were attacked by two hostile machines whilst on a reconnaissance
flight and brought them both down out of control. Flt.-Lieut. Edwards was hit by a bullet which passed through the left shoulder, fracturing the collar-bone, and at the same time was slightly wounded in both feet. Although suffering considerably, he brought his machine home safely, in spite of being again attacked by two hostile aircraft. By his determination and pluck he probably saved his own life and that of his observer.

Distinguished Service Cross recommendation expands

From 1 Wing, R.N.A.S. Dunkerque to Vice Admiral Dover Patrol.

D.S.C. original recommendation.

‘Flight Commander Charles Cyril Rodgers Edwards for conspicuous skill and gallantry. On the 1 March 1917 this officer together with Sub-Lieutenant C. K. Chase, R.N.V.R. As an observer, and accompanied by an escort of 3 fighter machines, left with orders to carry out a photographic reconnaissance over BRUGES.
Owing to various causes the escort was reduced to one before proceeding in from the coast and before reaching BRUGES the one remaining escort got separated whilst engaged in driving off hostile aeroplanes.
Flight Commander Edwards, however, continued his reconnaissance but was attacked by several machines.
Sub-Lieutenant Chase engaged one attacking from the rear, which appeared to go down out of control, and Flight Commander Edwards was hit by a bullet which passed completely through the left shoulder fracturing the collarbone, and at the same time was slightly wounded in both feet. After this, however, he engaged a hostile machine with his forward gun, which the observer states fell out of control, and this statement was verified by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Tanner, the pilot of the fighter escort, which at this period joined the reconnaissance machine again.
Although suffering considerably, Flight Commander Edwards brought his machine home safely in spite of being attacked by two hostile aircraft, and landed at FURNES aerodrome. He fainted from weakness before he could be removed from the machine.
By his determination and pluck he probably saved his own life and that of his observer besides preserving the machine and camera.’

Belgium, Order of Leopold, Chevalier (one of only 27 awarded to to the RFC/RNAS/RAF)

London Gazette 23 March 1917. Act. Flight Commander Charles C. R. Edwards, R.N.A.S.

Original recommendation, Belgium, Order of Leopold, Chevalier. Flight Commander Charles Cyril Rodgers Edwards. ‘An excellent pilot of remarkable courage, with many patrols and long range photographic reconnaissances, during which he supplied the English and French Command with the most valuable information. On 1 March 1917, during a reconnaissance, he was attacked 40 miles behind the enemy lines by 5 aircraft, although he was severely hit by 3 bullets, fought and shot down one of his assailants while his passenger shot down another. He brought back to the lines his damaged aircraft.’
Another – ‘for Service on Belgian Coast’ and presented by His Majesty the King of the Belgians at the Le Penne hospital.

French Croix de Guerre

London Gazette 20 July 1917. Flight Commander Charles C.R. Edwards, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
Original presentation– I have the honour to report General Nollet, Commanding the 36th French Army Corps, conferred the Croix de Guerre upon the following Officers –
Acting Flight Commander Charles C. Edwards. (with Star).

Belgium, Croix de Guerre
Belgium, Croix de Guerre confirmed in service papers (Air 76 at T.N.A.) & original newspaper cutting of the time.

Charles Cyril Rogers Edwards was born at Penn Fields, Upper Penn, near Wolverhampton, 15 July 1893. He enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service as Air Mechanic 1, 29 August 1914. Edwards was posted to Dunkirk to serve with Wing Commander C. R. Samson’s 3 Squadron. From his R.N.A.S. service record states “September – December 1914 served with Armoured Cars Sqds. Under Commander Sampson. In action at Orciers, Douai, Antwerp, & Ypres.”

Edwards was commissioned Flight Sub Lieutenant with No. 1 Wing, R.N.A.S., in May 1915. He was appointed Acting Flight Commander, and was primarily engaged on photographic reconnaissance along the Belgian coast. Edwards and his observer, Sub-Lieutenant C. K. Chase, both distinguished themselves on one such sortie (see citation above) resulting in the award of the D.S.C. for both of them. The incident, for which both Edwards and Chase also received a Belgian award (Not Gazetted, but on service papers) generated a lot of publicity featuring in The Daily Telegraph amongst other publications.

As the war reached Burma, Edwards was given an Emergency Commission as Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Indian Engineers, 14 March 1942. He advanced to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of HQ Army in India, Quartermaster General’s Branch. Edwards served with the latter as an Assistant Director (Transportation), and finished the war with the rank of Temporary Colonel. He returned to his pre-war employment, and was appointed Deputy Chief Engineer, Burma Railways, Rangoon.

Accompanied by

Letter from the Commonwealth Relations Office to recipient confirming his entitlement to Second War campaign medals, dated 13 October 1950

hand-written list of recipient’s service and awards, dated 23 February 1974

photograph of recipient in the cockpit of his aircraft ‘Baby D’, and another of the recipient in the passenger seat of an armoured car; newspaper cuttings featuring recipient, and annotated by him; postcard sent by recipient from Parentis-En-Born, France, to his wife.

Good  of copied research – Award Recommendations including Foreign ones, Service Papers, London Gazette’s, Medal Roll, Aviators’ Certificate, Census etc.
£