Edgar joined the Royal Navy in May 1940, two days before his nineteenth birthday and, after initial training, began a flying course in Trinidad in September 1940. He qualified as an Observer in April 1941 and was commissioned as a Midshipman (A) RNVR. Promoted to Sub Lieutenant (A) RNVR at the age of 20 in May

1941 and appointed to 825 NAS embarked on HMS Ark Royal in June 1941, flying operationally with the squadron operating the Fairey Swordfish TBR until November 1941 when HMS Ark Royal was sunk. Edgar told of the moment when the ship was struck “I was in the aircraft hangar and, when the ship was hit, all of the lights went out. I was left in total darkness unable to see anything - even my hand in front of me.

Knowing that I was close to an aircraft and on which side, I felt ahead of me until I touched the aircraft fuselage then I was able to move forward by keeping contact with the aircraft until I reached the aircraft propeller I then had a bearing to point me toward the hangar bulkhead. I was then, very carefully, able to edge forward feeling in front of me until I reached the bulkhead and was then able to move along the side of the hangar until I located an access lobby through which I was able to exit from the Hangar”.

On returning to England, Edgar was sent to Lee-on-Solent where 825 Squadron reformed in late December 1941.

In Early February 1942, 825 squadron, with 6 replacement aircraft and, still commanded by RAF  Manston, Kent, where they started practicing attack techniques with MTB’s of the Royal Navy in

preparation for the widely believed theory that the German Navy were cover of darkness, through the

Dover Straits in order to return to their home ports in Germany. On the morning of 12 February blowing about in the wind the order came that, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugene complete with their surface and aerial escorts had been spotted  travelling at speed toward the Straits and 825 NAS were ordered to make their attack immediately. Manston at 1225hrs and circled over Ramsgate waiting for their

air cover of RAF Spitfires to rendezvous with them. When, after 5 minutes the expected number of  covering aircraft didn’t  materialise, Esmonde decided that if he waited any longer the German ships would be too far away for them to reach so gave the signal to the other 5 aircraft to follow him as he pressed forward to attack.  Twenty minutes after taking off from RAF Manston all of the Swordfish had been blown out of the sky. Of the 18 aircrewmen, only 5 survived and of those 5, Edgar was the only man to have not received any significant injury. Edgar and his pilot, Brian Rose, were rescued from their safety dingy by a British Motor Torpedo Boat. For his actions in this fateful incident Edgar was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In March 1942, Edgar joined the new 825 Squadron and flew with them until in July of that year he was sent for re-posting to RNAS St. Merryn on ‘Flying Control’ duties. At the end of February 1943, Edgar was seconded to No. 106 Squadron based at RAF Syerston and operating  Avro Lancaster’s, under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, DSO DFC. Six RN Observers were seconded to No. 5 Group Bomber Command, three were lost and three returned to naval duties at the end of July 1943.

Edgar was promoted to Lieutenant (A) RNVR in November 1943, instructing in Canada from August 1943 to November 1944 and returned to England to qualify as a Signals Officer in August 1945.

From Staff Signals Officer to the Rear Admiral Reserve Aircraft from September 1945 until his demob  in

July 1947.

Edgar re-joined the reserve in 1956 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander RNR in November 1961, serving in most NATO and National Exercises until 1981 and as Acting Commander RNR in Exercises from 1969 until retirement aged 60 in 1981. Lt Cdr Edgar Lee DSO VRD RNR

flew in Fairey Swordfish W5983 ‘G’ during the Channel Dash Operation (Codenamed Operation Fuller) on 12 February 1942.