203

N.Z.412903 Pilot Officer Edgar Lester ROBSON (surname underlined)
Parents Mr. & Mrs. H. Robson of Wanganui.

Edgar Robson was born at Wanganui on the 21st November 1915, and received his secondary education at the Wanganui Technical College, later attending Lincoln College, Christchurch. He played tennis, golf, and cricket being a member of the First Eleven at Lincoln College. On leaving College, he was employed as a shepherd on various sheep stations, and on the 30th September 1939 at the time of applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was employed in this capacity by Mr. R.O. Dalrymple of Bulls

Pilot Officer Robson was enlisted at the Ground Training School, Levin, on the 10th May 1941 and on completion of the course there, on the 18th June, embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival, on the 5th July 1941, Pilot Officer Robson proceeded to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, remaining there until his posting on the 17th March 1942 to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan. While at this Unit, he was awarded the Air Gunner Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 13th April. Later on the 6th April 1943 while serving in the United Kingdom he was appointed to a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer. Meanwhile he had proceeded on the 23rd April, 1942 to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Robson arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 13th May 1942 remaining attached there until posting on the 15th July, to Stormy Down, Glamorganshire for further training at No. 7 Air Gunners School. His next posting was on the 23rd August to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourne, Hertfordshire, for crewing up and training on Wellington bomber aircraft, prior to commencing operational flying on the 25th November as a member of No. 428 Squadron, Dalton, Yorkshire.

From this base as Air Gunner of Wellington aircraft, he took part in operational flights, the targets being Lorient (3) and St. Nazaire (2) in