South Yorkshire Times August 9, 1947

Flew Home From Berlin
Mexborough Soldier Brought To Dying Son’s Bedside

Thirty-five-year-old Lee/Cpl. Frederick Edwards, of 17, Raikes Street, Mexborough, was flown home from Berlin to the hospital bedside of his seven-Year-old son, Brian, in a plane placed at his disposal by Brigadier Ritchie, General Officer Commanding 1st Army Area, BAOR.

Brian died in Mexborough Montagu hospital early on the morning of August 1st, almost a week after his father’s arrival.

From Stalingrad.

Brigadier Ritchie, whose home is in Doncaster, travelled in the same ‘plane. They were airborne at 12-30 on Sunday, July 27th, and L./Corpl. Edwards, brought by special car from Doncaster, reached  his home in Raikes Street at 4-30. His flight followed an 1,800 miles journey from Stalingrad to Berlin.

L./Cpl. Edwards who is in the Regular Army, is with the Control Commission and during the war so service in France and the Middle East. He is now with seventh armoured Corps (to which, one time, the Reverend AJ Bishop, Vicar of Mexborough, was attached.

He has been driver, batman and bodyguard to Brigadier Ritchie since 1944, when he was recommended in France.

His parents, formerly of Mexborough, are now living in Bedfordshire. His wife is a Swinton girl. They have three other children, Frederick (10), James Richard (9) and Peter Wilfred (3).

Unhappy coincidence is that Peter, who had an accident with a rug pegger, is now in Mexborough  Hospital with septic poisoning in his arm. He is making good progress.

Only a few days before his hurried return to England, L./Corpl. Edwards had been home on 21 days’ leave. Brian was well and saw him off. He died from meningitis.

Formerly Brian attended Garden Street School.