NEW ZEALAND V.C.
SQUADRON-LEADER TRENT ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 30. Awarded the Victoria Cross last March for his outstanding leadership while attacking in daylight a power station in Amsterdam in May, 1943, Squadron Leader L. H. Trent. V.C.. D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F., of Nelson, arrived in Auckland on the Akaroa. He is accompanied by his English wife, whom he married in 1940, and their five-year-old daughter. Unassuming and quiet, he has come back to be demobilised from the R.N.Z.A.F. before returning to Britain to take up a, permanent commission in the R.A.F. “ I would prefer to live in New Zealand, but tne opportunities in the R.A.F. are better,” Squadron Leader Trent said. “The R.A.F. is, of course, so much bigger. It is a great feeling to be back home again after eight years. The weather is all that I have told my wife New Zealand weather should be.”
It had been a moving experience, he said, to have taken part in the Victory parade. He considered the British people had been charming to the Dominion and colonial personnel. He had a very warm regard for Britain. “London, however, is so big that it still frightens me, to the amusement of my wife. I used to walk four miles to reach some place only 200 yards away.
This coming winter in Britain is goi) to be pretty grim. People will n actually starve, but they will still i chained to rationed,' boring and mu dane fare.” Trent was met by his mother, wi came to Auckland from Nelson, ai by an old friend, Wing Commander Baigent, who was formerly command of New Zealand 75 Squadron.
It is understood that Group Capta! Scott has also" accepted a permand commission in the R.A.F. He had o of the fastest promotions in the R.A, —certainly the fastest of any New Zd lander. He entered the traini school as an airman and went ove seas as a flight sergeant. In 18 mont he rose from flight sergeant to groJ captain. He was a night fighter pij on Hurficanes, and then was tran ferred to rocket-firing Typhoons. E
greatest work was accomplished j after D Day.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26245, 31 August 1946, Page 6
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360NEW ZEALAND V.C. Otago Daily Times, Issue 26245, 31 August 1946, Page 6
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