OTAGO SPORTSMAN'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 24299, 14 September 1942, Page 2

OTAGO SPORTSMAN'S DEATH

FLIGHT-SERGEANT ALLAN EDWARDS The news of the death of Flight-sergeant Allan James Edwards on active service will come as a great shock to his friends, and they were many, for not only was Sergeant Edwards closely connected with several branches of sport, but his pleasant, straightforward, and sincere personality made a friend of almost everyone who came in contact with him. Before ho joined ihe Royal New Zealand Air Force in January, 1941, Sergeant Edwards, who was 22, earned an enviable reputation in (he world of sport. For two seasons prior io enlisting ho played in senior football for the Southern Club, and in that time he showed considerable promise as a fiveeighth. On the cricket Held, 100, he gave many a bright display for the High School Old Boys’ Club, both as a batsman and in ihe field. In the 1940-41 season he represented Otago against Canterbury in Flunkct Shield cricket. Ho was an enlhnsiaslic alpinist, and, as one of the foremost active members of tho Otago section, of the New Zealand Alpine Club he had a splendid record on the mountains’. In the Otago Ski Club ho was also an ardent participator in the tricky , and hazardous sport that the club fostered, and showed himself to bo no moan skier. After joining the Air Force be trained' at various Now Zealand stations before going to Canada, whence, after a lew months, he went to England. He became attached to a Spitfire squadron, and, according to iho last information received from him, lie had taken part in 50 operational sweeps, and had at least one enemy machine to his credit. He gave his services to the Empire with the same sincere enthusiasm that he gave them to everything else. Sergeant Edwards was a son of Mr and Mrs iT Edwards, Lochend street, Tainui, and was one of three brothers serving, the other two being Russell, who is in the Middle East, and Gordon, who is in camp in New Zealand.