Stearne Tighe Edwards, RAF
Stearne Tighe Edwards was born on Feb. 13, 1893 in Franktown, ON to Edwin (Denis) and Annie Edwards. They were listed as Irish descent and Anglican. His parents were 40 and 32 years old at the time of his birth and he was the second of three children including Mary and Edwin, Jr. His family and he moved to William St. in Carleton Place sometime between 1901 and 1911 where he grew up and became best friends with A. Roy Brown and played hockey together. Stearne graduated with honours in 1912 and went to Hoban, ON to become an engineer’s assistant with the Algoma Central Railway. However, in 1913, his father died so he then took a job with the Grand Trunk Railway. When the war broke out, he decided to enlist in The Pas, Manitoba where he eventually met Roy Brown again. They decided to join the Royal Naval Air Service but discovered you needed a private pilot license. So they went to the Wright School in Dayton, Ohio in 1915 and got their license in October and November 1915. They were then sent to Chingford, England and later Eastchurch where Stearne continued his training.
On April 29, 1916 Stearne and Roy went into active service together joining the 3rd Wing in Detling. His logbook began on Sept. 1, 1916 and flew his first mission as a bombing pilot on October 12. Stearne had several close calls including landing with an armed bomb, and on another occasion landing with a cracked propeller, wing and engine block. On March 9, he was transferred to the 11th Squadron as a fighter pilot. On August 10th, 1917, he was transferred to the 9th Squadron where he rejoined Roy Brown. In three months, he flew 85 patrols with 160 hours according to his logbook. During this time, he became known as a skilled pilot receiving the Distinguished Service Cross and bar and becoming an ace on Sept. 27. However, he made no mention of these accomplishments in his logbook. He and his friend, Roy, then had a break over the Christmas holidays. However, in 1918, he experienced seven transfers and was eventually promoted to Captain. He also received a bar with his Cross on May 20, 1918.
On May 23, 1918, Stearne was discharged to the 24th General Hospital due to battle fatigue. After discharge, he was assigned to the 38th Training Depot in Tadcaster, England. While there, he started the application to become a RAF instructor. However, on Nov. 12, 1918, to celebrate the end of the war, he took a flight in a Sopwith Pup and crash landed. Due to the injuries sustained in this crash, Stearne Edwards died on Nov 22, 1918. He is buried in Tadcaster, England in Yorkshire Grave reference B24.G.25 with a monument erected in his name in Carleton Place, ON in 1920. Roy Brown drew the last veil over his monument at the memorial service in his name. He is commemorated on page 586 of the Book of Remembrance and Edwards Drive across from St. Gregory Catholic School is named after him.
Stearne Tighe Edwards was born on Feb. 13, 1893 in Franktown, ON to Edwin (Denis) and Annie Edwards. They were listed as Irish descent and Anglican. His parents were 40 and 32 years old at the time of his birth and he was the second of three children including Mary and Edwin, Jr. His family and he moved to William St. in Carleton Place sometime between 1901 and 1911 where he grew up and became best friends with A. Roy Brown and played hockey together. Stearne graduated with honours in 1912 and went to Hoban, ON to become an engineer’s assistant with the Algoma Central Railway. However, in 1913, his father died so he then took a job with the Grand Trunk Railway. When the war broke out, he decided to enlist in The Pas, Manitoba where he eventually met Roy Brown again. They decided to join the Royal Naval Air Service but discovered you needed a private pilot license. So they went to the Wright School in Dayton, Ohio in 1915 and got their license in October and November 1915. They were then sent to Chingford, England and later Eastchurch where Stearne continued his training.
On April 29, 1916 Stearne and Roy went into active service together joining the 3rd Wing in Detling. His logbook began on Sept. 1, 1916 and flew his first mission as a bombing pilot on October 12. Stearne had several close calls including landing with an armed bomb, and on another occasion landing with a cracked propeller, wing and engine block. On March 9, he was transferred to the 11th Squadron as a fighter pilot. On August 10th, 1917, he was transferred to the 9th Squadron where he rejoined Roy Brown. In three months, he flew 85 patrols with 160 hours according to his logbook. During this time, he became known as a skilled pilot receiving the Distinguished Service Cross and bar and becoming an ace on Sept. 27. However, he made no mention of these accomplishments in his logbook. He and his friend, Roy, then had a break over the Christmas holidays. However, in 1918, he experienced seven transfers and was eventually promoted to Captain. He also received a bar with his Cross on May 20, 1918.
On May 23, 1918, Stearne was discharged to the 24th General Hospital due to battle fatigue. After discharge, he was assigned to the 38th Training Depot in Tadcaster, England. While there, he started the application to become a RAF instructor. However, on Nov. 12, 1918, to celebrate the end of the war, he took a flight in a Sopwith Pup and crash landed. Due to the injuries sustained in this crash, Stearne Edwards died on Nov 22, 1918. He is buried in Tadcaster, England in Yorkshire Grave reference B24.G.25 with a monument erected in his name in Carleton Place, ON in 1920. Roy Brown drew the last veil over his monument at the memorial service in his name. He is commemorated on page 586 of the Book of Remembrance and Edwards Drive across from St. Gregory Catholic School is named after him.