Edward Gedge served as a lieutenant in World War I with the Royal Field Artillery, and was honoured with the Military Cross (MC) in 1918. He later switched to the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF) and eventually became a wing commander. After marrying his second wife Eileen, Gedge had two daughters Sarah and Janie, the latter of whom suffered from severe asthma all her life. To improve her quality of life, they decided to emigrate to New Zealand but, one week into the six-week trip aboard HMS Rangitoto in 1953, Janie died after suffering a severe asthma attack and was buried at sea. Gedge and family stayed in New Zealand and, being a former wing commander in the British Air Force, he took up a similar post in New Zealand’s first Air Force base at Ohakea, where he was the station commander. Gedge died at the age of 94 and his wish was to be buried at sea to be near to his daughter. He was given a military funeral, and the New Zealand Air Force then arranged for his final wish to be respected.
Great Britain