John Edwards Pugh

Name:

John Edwards Pugh

Attestation Paper

Country:

Canada

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Units:

Victories:

Born:

29 April 1890

Place of Birth:

Shotwick, Cheshire, England

Died:

28 May 1966

Place of Death:

New Westminster, British Columbia

The son of Thomas Edwards Pugh and Annie Esther Leigh, John Edwards Pugh emigrated to Canada when he was 23 years old. A civil service clerk, he was living in Stoney Plain, Alberta when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 23 Sept 1914. He served with the Alberta Dragoons until he was wounded on the Somme on 16 September 1916. When he recovered he transferred to aviation and following pilot training he flew the D.H.4 with 25 Squadron, becoming a flight commander and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1918 after eight months of operations.

Military Cross (MC)

Lt. John [Edwards] Pugh, Can. Loc. Forces, and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out twenty successful bombing raids and fifteen long-distance photographic reconnaissances, showing great determination in carrying out his work, in spite of strong opposition by enemy aircraft. In two days he took 108 photographs in the course of long-distance flights. During a period of five days he dropped three-quarters of a ton of bombs on enemy troops and transport, and engaged ground targets with machine-gun fire from a low altitude. On one occasion whilst on a bombing raid he was attacked by five enemy machines, one of which he destroyed. He set a splendid example of skill and resource.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918 (30761/7429)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	13 Jan 1918	1150	25	D.H.4 (A7609) ¹	Scout (OOC)	La Jardinet
2	27 Mar 1918	1510	25	D.H.4 (A7913) ²	Siemens-Schuckert D.III (OOC)	Faucaucourt
3	08 May 1918	0810	25	D.H.4 (A7913) ³	Pfalz D.III (DES)	Thorout
4	08 May 1918	0820	25	D.H.4 (A7913) ³	Pfalz D.III (OOC)	Thorout
5	05 Jun 1918	0930	25	D.H.4 (A7913) ⁴	Rumpler C (DES)	E of Albert

1	Observer 2Lt O S Hinson
2	Observer Sgt A H Muff
3	Observer 2Lt W Dixon
4	Observer Lt S C Eschmann