NEWS OF PILOT-OFFICER H. EDWARDS

Otaki Mail, 22 December 1939, Page 1

NEWS OF PILOT-OFFICER H. EDWARDS

CARE BY GERMANS News of Pilot-Officer L. H. Edwards, who was taken prisoner in Germany after the first Royal Air Force raid on Kiel, has been received from a visitor to Germany, who talked with him and his companions. He is being treated like an officer and has an orderly detailed for attendance upon him. A letter conveying this and other information was recently received by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Edwards, of Patea, from Miss Nola Luxford, formerly a resident of Hastings, who is engaged in American journalism and radio broadcasting. “It is with a great feeling of sincerity that I write this letter to you, for it contains authentic news about your boy, Pilot-Officer L. H. Edwards,” says Miss Luxford. “Mr. H. R. Baukhage recently returned from Germany, where he had been broadcasting. I met him as he left the ’plane in which lie flew back, and almost his first words to me were about your son. Knowing that I was a New Zealander lie told me about having met your son and having had a long chat with him. Ho met him, together with Flying-Officers Booth and Slattery, on September I4th.

“He talked with all of them altogether. They were suffering from injuries after the ’plane baa ourst into flames, and landed in the sea, nevertheless they were being taken care of. Apparently your boy had received burns about the head and shoulders, but a good doctor was attending to him. He told Mr. Baukhage that he planned to try and learn German while he was a prisoner, but was quite anxious to get back into a ’plane again. “Apparently the ’plane the boys were in was over Dogger Bank in the Kiel Canal raid. The German ’plane let off ils machine-gun, crippling the British ’plane. First the wing was struck, then the ’plane burst into flames, and the seven flyers landed in the water. Only three were saved.

“At first Mr. Baukhage said your son was a little timid about talking, but later on he lost any norvousness and chatted freely. “Mr. Baukhage assures me vour boy is all right, and that he is receiving attention for his wounds. He is being treated as a German officer, and has an orderly. That, apart from the fact that the boys are prisoners of war, they are fine. This, I am sure, you will be glad to know. “I hope that in sending you this news it has helped relieve some of the anxiety I am sure you mußt have had.”