Ray Edwards passed through The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Depot in 1955 and was posted to 2 PARA into Michael Gray's Platoon.He served in the Cyprus Emergency, Bahrain, Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore, Borneo campaign and Northern Ireland.

His regular army service was split by four years on A Reserve from 1958 to 1962, when he rejoined 2 PARA.

Ray's last posting prior to discharge in 1970  was at Brecon School of Infantry.