Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC

1974 – 1975

Sir Hughie was born in Fremantle in 1914 and went to Fremantle Boys’ School.

At 20 years of age he joined the regular army and became a cadet in the RAAF in 1935. He transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1936. A genuine war hero, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the second Australian and first officer so honoured.

The highly decorated officer had spent most of his professional life in Britain’s Air Force and in 1960 was selected as one of Queen Elizabeth’s Aides-de-Camp.

He was knighted in 1974 upon his appointment as Governor of Western Australia on 7 January.

Sir Hughie retired from the post due to ill health on 2 April 1975, just weeks before the arrival of Princess Anne and her then husband Captain Mark Phillips.