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CAPTAIN STEARNE TIGHE EDWARDS.
SERVICE: Royal Air Force.
BORN: Carleton Place Ontario Canada . ENLISTED: Ontario Canada.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 21/11/1918. AGED: 25.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster England.
MEMORIAL: Presbetarian Church Carleton Place Canada.
AWARDS: Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Service Cross.
Stearne was born in Franktown Ontario Canada on the 13 February 1893 to Edwin Dennis and Annie Caroline Tighe and had a brother called Edward.
The family lived in Carleton Place a town on the mississipi river in Ontario Canada.
At the outbreak of war it was reported that Stearne walked 200 miles from Port Nelson where he was working as a Railway Construction worker to join up with three of his pals including his best friend Arthur Roy Brown who was credited with shooting down the Red Barron.
Stearne joined the Royal Naval Air Service and attended the Wright Brothers flying training school in Dayton Ohio US, where he attained his ACA certificate on the 13th October 1915, and on the 31st was given the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in Otttowa.
Stearne was posted in April 1916 to Eastchurch Airfield in Kent this airfield was used by the RNAS for training their pilots in target practice.
Stearne moved around squadrons throughout the war included a posting for a short time with his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, attaining 16 kills to become one of the top Canadian Aces of the war.
He was given the DSC being mentioned in the London Gazzette on 17 November 1917 for recognition of services including:
"driving an aircraft into the sea and on the same day he attacked three more aircraft inflicting damage to another aircraft shooting its wings off."
Eventually the pressure told on Stearne and in May 1918 he suffered a nervous breakdown and he was sent home to Canada on leave to recouparate and rest.
On the 18th June 1918 in the London Gazzette on the same page as his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, Stearne was awarded the DSC Bar for conspicuous bravery and brilliant leadership of fighting patrols against enemy aircraft.
"On the 2nd May 1918 Stearne was leading a patrol of four aircraft when they encountered a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drove one enemy plane out of control.
Soon afterwards Stearne encountered another formation of six enemy aircraft driving one down only breaking off when he ran out of ammunition."
Stearne was posted back to No 38 Training Squadron at Tadcaster Bramham Moor Airfield in October 1918 as a trainer.
On the 12th November 1918 one day after the war ended Stearne was injured in a flying accident whilst controlling a Sopwith Camel.
Stearne passed away on the 22nd November 1918 from injuries received. (Can you help with details of this crash)
Arthur Roy Brown survived the war and never forgot his best friend dedicating a plaque to Stearne in the Presbyterian Church in Carleton Place Canada, he is also remembered on the Carleton Place War Memorial.
Stearne lies in Tadcaster Cemetery (SEE BELOW) near to another airman 2nd Lt E.F.Reynolds who crash landed in the local area around Tadcaster in December 1918.
News of Stearnes tragic accident was reported in the Perth Courier Ontario Canada on the 20th December 1918.
The final resting place of Stearne Tighe Edwards in Tadcaster.
"In loving memory of Captain Stearne Tighe Edwards DSC RAF
son of Mr and Mrs Edwards, Carleton Place Ontario Canada who died of injuries received on Armistace Day."
"A Brave and Gallant Gentleman."
The saddest note for me personally was that when i visited Stearnes grave all the other graves with Commonwealth War headstones had been visited and a poppy placed on each one, including a grave right next to Stearnes.
The aim of this site is to ensure that we do "Remember Them" and while Stearne may be remembered in his homeland his grave as been left untouched.
All the men who gave their lives were heros but Stearne was in every sense of the word a true Canadian hero and he deserves better and next rememberance day we will remember him.
You can find more details of Stearnes life by visiting www.theaerodrome.com click on Aces then by nation click on Canada and go to page two click on Stearnes name details will follow. Or to read about Roy Arthur Brown Stearns best friend who shot down the Red Barron try www.constable.ca/brown.htm (be aware this will take you away from this site )
If you have any pictures or information please contact me .
