Leonard Henry Trent
Born 14 Apr 1915 - Died 19 May 1986
- Service number
- 36146 AWMM
- NZ2481 AWMM
- Also known as
- Henry Leonard Trent AWMM
- Len AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Post WW2 Group Captain (British Air Attache)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force AWMM
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Leonard Henry AWMM
- Surname
- Trent AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Henry Leonard Trent AWMM
- Len AWMM
- Service number
- 36146 AWMM
- NZ2481 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 14 Apr 1915 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
- Royal Air Force/Civilian AWMM
- Next of kin
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- 36146 AWMM
- NZ2481 AWMM
- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
Victoria Cross. The London Gazette of 1 March 1946 records the following:- " On 3 May 1943, Squadron Leader Trent was detailed to lead a formation of Ventura aircraft in a daylight attack on the power station at Amsterdam. This operation was intended to encourage the Dutch workmen in their resistance to enemy pressure and the target was known to be heavily defended. The importance of bombing it, regardless of enemy fighters or anti-aircraft fire, was strongly impressed on the aircrews taking part in the operation. Before taking off Squadron Leader Trent told the deputy leader that he was going over the target whatever happened. All went well until the eleven Venturas and their fighter escort were nearing the Dutch Coast. Then one bomber was hit and had to turn back. Suddenly large numbers of enemy fighters appeared. Our escorting fighters were hotly engaged and lost touch with the bombing force. The Venturas closed up for mutual protection and commenced their run up to the target. Unfortunately the fighters detailed to support them over the target had reached the area too early and had been recalled. Soon the bombers were attacked. They were at the mercy of fifteen to twenty Messerschmitts which dived on them incessantly. Within four minutes six Venturas were destroyed. Squadron Leader Trent continued on his course with the remaining three aircraft, and in a short time two more Venturas went down in flames. Heedless of the murderous attacks and of the heavy anti-aircraft fire which was now encountered, Squadron Leader Trent completed an accurate bombing run, and even shot down a Messerschmitt at point blank range. Dropping his bombs in the target area he turned away. The aircraft following him was shot down on reaching the target. Immediately afterwards his own aircraft was hit and went into a spin and broke up. Squadron Leader Trent and his navigator were thrown clear and became prisoners of war. The two other members of the crew perished. On this, his twenty-fourth sortie, Squadron Leader Trent showed outstanding leadership. Such was the trust placed in this gallant officer that the other pilots followed him unwaveringly. His cool unflinching courage and devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds rank with the fine examples of these virtues" AWMM - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
Jul 1940 AWMM
Battle of Flanders AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- Royal Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- WW2 POW - Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany AWMM
3 May 1943 AWMM
Shot down during a daylight attack by Ventura bombers on the power station at Amsterdam, Holland AWMM - WW2 POW - Europe RNZAF AWMM
May 1943 AWMM
- WW2 POW - Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany AWMM
- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- Post WW2 23 Jun 1965 AWMM
Retired AWMM
Group Captain (British Air Attache)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force AWMM - Last rank
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Biographical information
- Leonard Trent was the son of Leonard Noel Trent and Irene Violet Everett; husband of Ursula Elizabeth nee Woolhouse, father of three: Christine, Tim, Judith.
He took part in the mass prisoner escape from Stalag Luft III by tunnel on the night of 24-25 March 1944 (The Great Escape)
Member of the RNZAF Contingent, in the Victory Parade, London 8 June 1946
He held a permanent commission with the Royal Air Force from 1 November 1947 - 23 June 1965
Posted as British Air Attache, Washington, United States of America
His ashes are buried with the remains of his wife Ursula and daughter Judith.
Birth name registered as Henry Leonard Trent. Victoria Cross held by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, Wigram, Christchurch AWMM - Leonard Trent was an Old Boy of Nelson College. Also at Nelson College was his 1st cousin (later Squadron Leader) Ian Richmond DFC.Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 2 May 2018 - Nelson College Old Boy Association, Nelson, New Zealand.
- Brother-in-Law of Flying Officer William J.L. Lauchlan : RNZAF - Service # NZ391361, 3 Squadron. Flying Officer Lauchlan was killed on active service - 16 October 1942 - Vanuatu, Pacific. William was the husband of Leonard Trent's sister Iredale.Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 19 August 2017 - Military profile of Flying Officer William J.L. Lauchlan : Auckland Cenotaph.
Group Captain Leonard Trent VC & Squadron Leader Ian G. Richmond DFC were both nephews of Gunner Roy Edward Everett (MM) - who served with the New Zealand Field Artillery NZEF from 1915 to 1919 - in World War 1. Gunner Everett received the Military Medal (MM) at Passchendaele, Belgium on 12 October 1917.Public - Jenifer - Other relative - 31 July 2017 - Family
- Leonard Trent was the son of Leonard Noel Trent and Irene Violet Everett; husband of Ursula Elizabeth nee Woolhouse, father of three: Christine, Tim, Judith.
About death
- Death
- 19 May 1986 AWMM
Age 71 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Fremantle Cemetery, Carrington Street, near the corner of Leach Highway, Palmyra, Freemantle, Western Australia AWMM Ground niche, Crematorium G, Garden 8, 0032 AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- Group Captain L H Trent VC Memorial Cairn - at Nelson Airport, New Zealand.Public - Jenifer - Other relative - 20 July 2017 - Family.
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Memorial street name: Trent Drive, Nelson, New Zealand AWMM
- Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Published on Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand online.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/DNZB/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=5T20
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
Further Reference - Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
Further Reference - WW2 Awards website: biography
http://www.ww2awards.com/person/166
Further Reference - Fremantle Cemetery Map, with Trent's gravesite
http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/maps/fremantle-cemetery-map-with-vc-recipients-highlighted.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History Online. Leonard Trent VC Memorial.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/leonard-trent-vc-memorial
Further Reference - 'Receives VC from King', Northern Advocate, 27 March 1946. Papers Past.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19460327.2.104
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6525372
Further Reference - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Air Force Officers and OR's [Other Ranks], Prisoners of War in Europe and Far East, Archives New Zealand, R17845754, ADQA 17263 AIR118/107/76/6
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845754
Further Reference
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Published on Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand online.
- References
- The New Zealand Herald
Catanzaro, J. (July 31). Mystery of war hero's resting place solved". - Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
p.482-83 - Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
p.213-14 - The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
p.315 - Information kindly provided by family
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Air Force Officers and OR's [Other Ranks], Prisoners of War in Europe and Far East, Archives New Zealand, R17845754, ADQA 17263 AIR118/107/76/6
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V4,n5,p56 - Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- The New Zealand Herald
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