Edgar O. Amm

Edgar Oxenham Amm
Nickname(s)	Porkey
Born	19 August 1898 Johannesburg, South Africa
Died	25 March 1953 Park Nursing Home, Johannesburg
Allegiance	Union of South Africa
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Major
Unit	No. 29 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar, French Croix de guerre and Belgian Croix de guerre
Other work	Served in South African Air Force during World War II

Major Edgar Oxenham Amm DFC & Bar (19 August 1898 – 25 March 1953) was a South African aviator who served in World War I and became a flying ace; he was credited with ten aerial victories. He returned to service during World War II. Between the wars, and after World War II, he was a farmer and businessman.^[1]

Personal life

Amm was born to Amy Celia Hill and Edwin John Amm.^[2] He was their fourth child.^[3] He went from school to the army while still in South Africa, and voyaged to Britain in early 1918. After service in the Royal Air Force, he declined an opportunity to return home on the first flight ever from England to South Africa,^[4] citing a promise to his father to never again fly. After he returned home, he farmed.^[1]

Amm married Annie Joyce Peppercorn; they had two daughters and a son, all born in the 1930s.^[2] During World War II, Amm returned to service. After the war, he sold his farm and founded the South Coast Aviation Company. From there, he moved on to citrus farming, managing Valencia Estates at Letaba.^[1] His last known occupation was general manager of Tzaneen Co-operative Citrus Co Ltd, Politsi, Tzaneen, Mpumalanga, South Africa.^[2]

Military service

Edgar O. Amm served in two World Wars. In the First, he was a lieutenant; in the Second, he was a major.^[1]

World War I

Amm was seconded from the army to the Royal Air Force. He joined 29 Squadron in July 1918 as a SE.5a pilot. He was almost immediately successful, setting a German Fokker D.VII fighter afire on 12 August 1918. He amassed two more victories in August, two in September, three in October.^[1] On 9 November, he drove down one Fokker D.VII and set another aflame. In turn, he was shot down by a third D.VII, but was unharmed.^[5] He spent a very short spell as a prisoner of war; one version of his repatriation has him riding a bicycle into his old unit on 24 November;^[1] another says he was in durance vile only 48 hours.^[5]

A summary of Amm's victories credits him with seven enemy airplanes and an observation balloon destroyed, and two planes driven down out of control.^[1] His opportunity to fly home as part of the Silver Queen expedition would seem to show that he served well into 1919, and perhaps 1920, as the Queen didn't take off until 4 February 1920.^[6]

World War II

First, he was a flying instructor; then he served in Egypt and the Middle East, as well as Italy.^[5]

Death

Amm died in a nursing home in Johannesburg on 25 March 1953. His death certificate showed him as ten years younger than his actual age.^[2]

Honours and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Edgar Oxenham Amm. (FRANCE)

A gallant and dashing airman who has destroyed four enemy machines and a balloon. On 17 September, in company with six other machines, this officer took part in an engagement with seventeen hostile aircraft; eight of these were destroyed, Lieut. Amm accounting for one. Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 December 1918^[7][8]

Awarded a Bar in lieu of a second award of the Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 June 1919.^[9]

Awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre on 15 June 1919.^[10]

References