[keith A]

Many thanks George. He was born 1921. His name was James Brooke Edmundson and he the son of Major George Ewbank Edmundson, R.A., and Lilian Doris Edmundson. He attended Sherborne School 1935-38.

"James Brooke Edmundson (d, '35-'38). James Brooke Edmundson came to Sherborne as a scholar in 1935. During his three years here he quickly made his mark and in that short time he became a House Prefect. He passed into the R.N. by Special Entry at his first attempt and we felt robbed of a valuable personality. He had endeared himself to everyone and gained their admiration by his strength of character. After some service in the Executive branch of the R.N., he transferred during the war to the F.A.A. While stationed at Henstridge he frequently visited Sherborne and it was clear that he had matured into an outstanding man. No sooner had he qualified as a pilot than he went east in an escort carrier. In January 1945 he was awarded the D.S.C. for gallantry in air operations, but it was typical of his modesty that in his last letter the only mention of his flying activities was that he had crashed his aeroplane. The news of his death came at the end of May. He was leading a fighter patrol over the Sakishima Islands when his aircraft was hit by flak. He attempted to bring his damaged aircraft back, but his engine gave out and he was killed instantly when his aircraft hit the sea. So was cut short a very promising career (he was already a Lieutenant-Commander at the age of 23) and a strong, lovable, and generous man has gone.

All this seems to dismiss a period of sea duty, but more than one lowly-ranked JB Edmundson RN seems unlikely.

regards

Keith