Early life
Harold Edwards was born in Chorley,First World War
During theInterwar years
After the war, Edwards returned to Canada and joined the newly-formed Canadian Air Force, a few months after its formation on 18 February 1920. Following a short flying refresher he was posted to Ottawa and placed in charge of the personnel branch where he was responsible for documenting Canadians with First World War experience in the RAF then recruiting them into the provisional air force and setting up an air training centre atDartmouth years
In 1934, Edwards was selected to command RCAF Station Dartmouth (now 12 Wing Shearwater), where he formed one of the RCAF's first squadrons after the crippling Great Depression, Depression. No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron was created by amalgamating the five RCAF detachments at Dartmouth, Shediac, Gaspé, Quebec, Gaspé, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Sydney and Rimouski. Under his leadership, No. 5 Squadron initiated anti-smuggling air patrols with a Royal Canadian Mounted Police observer on board. The patrols were flown in consort with RCMP marine vessels to thwart illegal rum running along the Nova Scotia coast. Under his direction, No. 5 Squadron initiated the first use of aircraft radios to report suspect vessels to RCAF and RCMP ground stations. He also introduced a tactical grid system to disguise geographic positions to foil rumrunners who eavesdropped on the wireless communications. After the disastrous Moose River Gold Mines, Nova Scotia, 1936 coal mine tragedy at Moose River (Nova Scotia), Moose River, the Premier (Canada), provincial premier requested Edwards' assistance in coordinating the rescue mission. Edwards transmitted messages and coordinated No. 5 Squadron aircraft to fly rescue equipment and personnel to the mine and to transport the injured to hospitals in Halifax; enabling them to receive treatment several days earlier than if transported by land. Millions in North America and Europe heard the rescue described on the radio. It was during these broadcasts that Edwards became known as he explained the RCAF's role in the rescue; his leadership engendered interest in air power and respect for the RCAF. During the post-Depression period in the mid-1930s the government implemented an Unemployment and Farm Relief Act, Unemployment Relief (UER) Project to create work for destitute and unemployed people and stimulate the economy. The RCAF benefited from the UER Projects by receiving more money and personnel, new aircraft and improved air stations. During 1937 and 1938, Edwards oversaw the UER Project at RCAF Station Dartmouth, which expanded the small seaplane base at Baker's Point into the largest and most important air station in Eastern Canada. He supervised the purchase of land from neighbouring farmers and the construction of new hangars and runways. Edwards' Commanding Officer reported, "In addition to his [regular] duties, Edwards has been in charge of UER Project No. 153 (Dartmouth Air Station) where his sound judgement and untiring energy have been the main factor in carrying out this work under considerable [social upheaval] difficulties". Under Edwards' command, RCAF Station Dartmouth and No. 5 Squadron were the only RCAF units in Canada declared combat ready at the outbreak of the Second World War. Notwithstanding the RCAF's obsolescent aircraft and lack of experience in modern air warfare, Edwards prepared the station to play a role in the air defence of Halifax's strategic harbour, and the eventual defeat of the ubiquitous U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic.Air Member for Personnel
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Canada agreed to be the principal venue for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), which involved the construction of 107 flying schools and 184 other units at 231 sites across the country. As Air Member for Personnel at RCAF Headquarters in 1940–1941, Edwards was responsible for manning the RCAF and providing the essential personnel support services including discipline, pay, medical, chaplains, senior appointments, promotions, retirements, postings and reserve forces, as well as compiling Personnel Staff Estimates and supervising Personnel Appropriations. To help meet the immediate requirement for so many qualified flying instructors, Air Marshal Billy Bishop turned to the American Clayton Knight Committee to facilitate the recruitment of hundreds of American civilian flying instructors and staff pilots, and Edwards dealt with the complexities of absorbing these Americans into the RCAF while respecting politically sensitive diplomatic protocols to avoid violating Neutrality Acts of 1930s, United States neutrality. The BCATP was able to provide over 131,000 aircrew to Commonwealth air forces who were critical in replacing the acute loss of pilots during the Battle of Britain and the loss of more than 55,000 aircrew in the bomber offensive over occupied Europe. The BCATP enabled the Commonwealth nations to man their air forces in Europe, North Africa and the Middle and Far East.AOC-in-Chief RCAF Overseas
In January 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, Edwards was transferred to London, England as the "Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RCAF Overseas Headquarters, RCAF Overseas". Edwards' wide range of experience in administration, his concern for the welfare of both officers and other ranks, and certainly his forceful personality made him the best choice to command all RCAF personnel overseas, not only in England but also in the Middle and Far East. According to BCATP Article XV squadrons, Article XV, Canadian graduate aircrews were to form 35 RCAF squadrons after arrival in England. However, when Edwards arrived in London he discovered that Canadians were dispersed over "Hell's half acre" within the RAF. RCAF Officers in the posting departments in England had received little direction to concentrate Canadians into RCAF squadrons and were uncertain of the location of more than 6,000 Canadians posted into RAF squadrons. Edwards established a Records and Statistics Directorate to track the whereabouts of all RCAF personnel. He increased RCAF medical staff in RAF hospitals and supported the building of the plastic surgery hospital in East Grinstead. He improved the postal system and introduced a Canadian newsletter, ''Wings Abroad''. Edwards established seven district headquarters, to provide a direct channel of communication for RCAF personnel in the field, on matters administered by the RCAF (pay, allowances, promotion, etc.). Similarly, with the ever-increasing number of RCAF personnel in the Mediterranean and Far East, district headquarters were opened in Cairo, Egypt and India.Canadianization
With so many Canadians serving in RAF squadrons, Edwards was concerned that Article XV squadrons, Article XV was not being implemented as agreed by the signatories to the BCATP. Moreover, the large number of Canadians embedded in RAF squadrons obfuscated the RCAF's contribution to the air war and Canada was not being justly recognized for its contribution. Edwards met with his RAF counterparts to revitalize Article XV, a process that became known as "Canadianization", where Canadians would form distinct RCAF squadrons, which would fight as Canadian units under Canadian command. This plan received harsh criticism from the highest ranks of the RAF; his assertiveness made him unpopular around the Air Ministry. Conflicting direction from Ottawa urging him to press for "Canadianization" but not to antagonize the Air Ministry took a toll on his health. Eighteen RCAF fighter squadrons, organized into six Canadian wings, formed the largest Commonwealth contingent in the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force. Similarly, 15 bomber squadrons in No. 6 Group RCAF in RAF Bomber Command earned recognition of Canada's major role in carrying the fight to the enemy in the night skies over Nazi occupied Europe. In the same vein, six RCAF anti-submarine and anti-shipping squadrons provided yeoman service in RAF Coastal Command. By the end of the Second World War, RCAF BCATP establishments and squadrons in Europe constituted the fourth largest Allied air force. For his leadership in RCAF's overall contribution to the Allied victory in the Second World War, Air Marshal Edwards received awards of distinction from the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Czechoslovakia.Retirement
Exhausted from RCAF work, Edwards' failing health forced him to return to Canada on 31 December 1943. He retired from the RCAF on 29 September 1944 and died on 23 February 1952, at the age of 59, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Six days later the RCAF buried its first Air Marshal with national honours in Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery on 29 February 1952. On 15 June 2012, sixty years after his death, Air Marshal Edwards was reinterred beside his comrades-in-arms in the National Military Cemetery, located within Beechwood Cemetery. His son Billy Edwards was profiled in Allan King's 1969 documentary film ''A Married Couple (1969 film), A Married Couple''.June Callwood, "The informal Billy Edwards". ''The Globe and Mail'', July 14, 1975.Awards
*16 December 1919 – Mentioned for valuable services whilst in captivity (''London Gazette'') *19 January 1920 – Order of St. Stanislaus w/sword and bow (Russia) *15 March 1920 – Mentioned in Despatches *23 March 1920 – Order of St. Anne w/sword and bow (Russia) *1 January 1943 – Companion, Order of the Bath *13 August 1946 – Commander, Legion of Merit (United States of America) *12 September 1947 – Croix de Guerre avec palme (France) *12 September 1947 – Officier de la Légion d'Honneur (France) *5 March 1948 – Order of the White Lion For Victory – Star, First Class (Czechoslovakia) *14 June 2012 – Canada's Aviation Hall of FamePromotions
*3 February 1916 – Flight Sub Lieutenant * 1 October 1917 – Flight Lieutenant *29 September 1926 – Squadron Leader *1 April 1936 – Wing Commander *1 April 1939 – Group Captain *1 February 1940 – Air Commodore *5 August 1941 – Air Vice Marshal *20 June 1942 – Air MarshalReferences
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