Name
Thomas Hobbs Trinder
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
07/01/1942
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
751247
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
48 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Bergen (Mollendal) Cemetery
C. 10.
Norway
Headstone Inscription
"HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY"
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Tilehouse St. Baptist Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
Before the war he was employed by the Post Office Engineering Department and was a member of the RAF. Volunteer Reserve.
He became a wireless operator/air gunner with the Service Number 751247 in 48 Squadron of Coastal Command stationed at Wick on the northeast tip of Scotland. On the day of his death he was a member of the crew of a Hudson detailed to attack shipping in Bergen harbour. Landfall was made north of Bergen with the aircraft flying at only 50 ft above the sea in order to avoid detection. Light and medium flak was encountered which probably caused the loss of the aircraft.
He is buried in Grave C.10 in the Mollendal Church Cemetery, Bergen in Norway. A private inscription on the headstone reads "He hath prepared for them a City’‘.
His mother was Eveline Trinder, his father Thomas William having died, and their home was at 49, Balmoral Rd, Hitchin and he was the eldest son. He had a sister Evelyn.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Mrs J.A. Baines - former neighbour, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘RAF. Squadrons’ by C.G. Jefford, Herts Pictorial dated 20th January 1942
