Debert River July 1943

At approximately 0445 hours, 20 July 1943 on his own initiative,
this Non-Commissioned Officer ran in the dark with a fire extinguisher
from his lines at Debert Camp to the scene of an aeroplane crash
some distance away. The wreckage was ablaze in some woods that lay
across approximately a mile of rough country, and Lance-Corporal
Edwards in addition to running this distance had to cross the Debert River.

He was the first to arrive on the scene and without thought for his own
safety managed to drag the body of the pilot from the flames.
Only his wet clothing saved him from severe burns and he was in constant
danger from explosions. Unfortunately, the pilot whose body he rescued
and another officer who was in the plane and whose body was not recovered
were both killed by the crash.

This brave action, in which he was later assisted by another Non-Commissioned
Officer was highly commended in a letter from the Officer Commanding
the Royal Air Force station to which the plane and its crew belonged.

Canada Gazette 1 January 1944