Editing Lloyd Trigg

{{Short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Lloyd Trigg
|image= Lloyd Allan Trigg.jpg
|caption=
|birth_date= 5 May 1914 or 5 June 1914
|death_date= 11 August 1943 (aged 29)
|placeofburial_label= 
|placeofburial=
|birth_place=[[Houhora]], [[New Zealand]]
|death_place= off [[Dakar]], [[French West Africa]]
|placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
|nickname=
|allegiance=[[New Zealand]]
|branch=[[File:Air Force Ensign of New Zealand.svg|22px]] [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
|serviceyears=1941&ndash;1943
|rank=[[Flying Officer]]
|servicenumber=
|unit=[[No. 200 Squadron RAF]]
|commands=
|battles=
{{tree list}}
* [[World War II]]
** [[Atlantic War]]{{KIA}}
{{tree list/end}}
|battles_label=
|awards= {{plainlist |
*[[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
*[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
}}
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
[[Flying Officer]]  '''Lloyd Allan Trigg''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] (5 May 1914 or 5 June 1914 &ndash; 11 August 1943), of [[Houhora]], [[New Zealand]], was a pilot in the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|RNZAF]] during World War II. He was a [[posthumous recognition|posthumous]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy for [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] armed forces, and received the award for pressing home an attack on a German [[U-boat]] in August 1943. He was killed in the action. His award is unique, as it was awarded on evidence solely provided by the enemy, for an action in which there were no surviving Allied witnesses to corroborate his gallantry.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=346}}

==Early life==
Lloyd Allan Trigg, the son of Arthur and Cecelia Louisa Trigg (née White), was born at [[Houhora]], [[Northland Region|Northland]], [[New Zealand]] on 5 May 1914,<ref name=vconline>{{cite web |url=http://www.vconline.org.uk/lloyd-a-trigg-vc/4588365487 |title=Lloyd A Trigg |work=The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria and George Cross |access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref> or 5 June 1914,{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=346}} and was educated at [[Whangarei Boys' High School]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wbhs.school.nz/advanced_search_result.php?OHSid=3331977c6d4725f36a1919f813579f8a&keywords=trigg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724202319/http://www.wbhs.school.nz/advanced_search_result.php?OHSid=3331977c6d4725f36a1919f813579f8a&keywords=trigg |archive-date=24 July 2011 |title=Whangarei Boys' High}}</ref> where he served in the school cadet force. He later studied at [[Auckland University College]] and then took up farming in the Victoria Valley, as well as  serving as a [[non commissioned officer]] in the part-time North Auckland Rifles prior to World War II.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=346}}<ref name=vconline/>

==Military career==
Trigg joined the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF) as a trainee pilot on 15 June 1941.<ref name=vconline/> On enlistment, his occupation was recorded as "machinery salesman"<ref name=cenotaph/> and he was married with two sons, having married Nola McGarvey in 1938.<ref name=vconline/>  After completing basic training at the RNZAF base at [[Levin, New Zealand|Levin]], Trigg attended pilot training school at No. 3 EFS in [[Canada]].<ref name=vconline/> Noted for his hard work and willingness to learn, he was recommended for a commission.{{sfn|Harper|Richardson|2007|pp=296–297}} He obtained his [[Aircrew brevet|pilot's wings]] on 16 January 1942, and was commissioned as a [[pilot officer]]. After converting onto the [[Lockheed Hudson]] and completing further training at a reconnaissance school,<ref name=vconline/> Trigg was promoted to [[flying officer]] and embarked for the [[United Kingdom|UK]] in October 1942, to join [[Coastal Command]].{{sfn|Harper|Richardson|2007|pp=296–297}}

He was posted to West Africa in November 1942 and joined [[No. 200 Squadron RAF|200 Squadron RAF]] in January 1943. As a first pilot he took part in over 46 operational reconnaissance patrols, convoy escort flights and anti-submarine patrols.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=347}} Having previously operated Hudsons, the squadron later converted to the maritime version of the [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24 Liberator]].{{sfn|Halley|1969|p=126}}{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=67}}  He was an experienced pilot (he had already been awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]])<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36059|supp=y|pages=2769–2770|date=15 June 1943}}</ref> having been involved in two attacks against [[U-boat]]s in February 1943.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=347}}

He was flying his first operational flight in a Liberator V over the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] from his base at Yundumn, West Africa (now [[Banjul]], [[The Gambia]]), when on 11 August 1943 he engaged the {{GS|U-468}} under the command of ''[[Oberleutnant zur See|Oberleutnant]]'' Klemens Schamong.<ref name=Trigg/> His aircraft received several catastrophic hits from the submarine's [[anti-aircraft gun]]s during its approach to the submarine and was on fire as Trigg made his final attack.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|pp=346–347}}

After dropping its depth charges, Trigg's Liberator crashed 300 yards behind its victim, killing Trigg and his crew. The only surviving witnesses to Trigg's actions were the U-boat crew members. The badly damaged U-boat sank soon after the attack but a small group of survivors (including Schamong) were spotted by an RAF [[Short Sunderland]] of No. 204 Squadron in the dinghy of the crashed Liberator, drifting off the coast of West Africa. They were rescued by a [[Royal Navy]] vessel, {{HMS|Clarkia}}, the next day,{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=348}} and the German crew reported the incident, recommending Trigg be decorated for his bravery. On 2 November 1943, Trigg was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=346}}
[[File:HMS Clarkia picks up dinghy of Trigg's Liberator, October 1943.jpg|thumb|right|The intelligence officer of HMS ''Clarkia'' inspects the dinghy from Trigg's crashed Liberator, used by the survivors of the destroyed U-boat.]]

The Victoria Cross was presented to Trigg's widow, Nola,<ref name=cenotaph>{{cite web |url=http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C20002 |title=Lloyd Allan Trigg |work=Online Cenotaph |publisher=Auckland Museum |access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref> by the Governor General of New Zealand, [[Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall|Sir Cyril Newall]], on 28 May 1944.{{sfn|Ashcroft|2007|p=348}}{{sfn|Bowman|2014|p=117}} At his wife's request, the presentation took place at the Trigg family home so that family and friends could be present. It was the last Victoria Cross to be won by a New Zealander; the [[Victoria Cross for New Zealand]], established in 1999, is now the highest gallantry award that can be bestowed on a New Zealand serviceman.{{sfn|Harper|Richardson|2007|pp=296–297}}

Since Trigg has no burial place, he is commemorated on the [[Malta Memorial]] to the 2,298 Commonwealth aircrew who lost their lives around the Mediterranean during the Second World War and who have no known grave.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1533454 |title=Casualty details—Trigg, Lloyd Alan|publisher=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] |access-date=29 October 2008}}</ref>

==Citation==
The citation reads as follows:

{{blockquote|''Air Ministry, 2nd&nbsp;November, 1943.''

The [[George VI of the United Kingdom|KING]] has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: —

Flying Officer Lloyd Allan TRIGG, D.F.C. (N.Z.413515), Royal New Zealand Air Force (missing, believed killed), No. 200 Squadron.

Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding service on convoy escort and antisubmarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order.  One day in August 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8 hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted.  Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail.  The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a "[[Leading targets|no deflection]]" target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival.  There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew.  The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator.  The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks on underwater craft, but Flying Officer Trigg's exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory.|Supplement to ''[[London Gazette]]'', 29 October 1943, (dated 2 November 1943)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36230|supp=y|page=4813|date=29 October 1943}}</ref>}}

==Legacy==

In 2007, New Zealand researcher Arthur Arculus tracked down Klemens Schamong near [[Kiel]]. The commander said of Trigg's effort "such a gallant fighter as Trigg would have been decorated in Germany with the highest medal or order".<ref>{{cite web  |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10436019
 |title=U-boat skipper's testimony led to VC for New Zealand pilot |author=Lambert, Max |date=24 April 2007 |work=NZPA   |access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref>

In May 1998, Trigg's VC was sold at auction by Spinks of London for £138,000, the highest price ever realised for a VC at that time.<ref name=Spink>{{cite web|url=http://www.spink.com/departments/medals.asp |title=Spink Medal Department |access-date=7 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030124614/http://www.spink.com/departments/medals.asp |archive-date=30 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>''Medal Yearbook 2000'' back cover with photograph  ISBN 1870192265</ref> The seller was not believed to have been a relative of Trigg and the medals were purchased on behalf of the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for [[Michael Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft|Lord Ashcroft's]] VC Collection.<ref name=Trigg>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbtrigg.htm|title=Lloyd Trigg VC|website=www.victoriacross.org.uk |access-date=22 March 2019}}</ref> The VC is now on display at the [[Lord Ashcroft Gallery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/heroes|title=Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes|website=Imperial War Museums}}</ref> at the [[Imperial War Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgecrossheroes.com/files/medalnews_december2010.pdf |title=Gallantry: Victorious |first=Philip |last=Mussell |access-date=22 March 2019}}
</ref>

Trigg Avenue, [[Rotorua]] is named in his honour.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/flying-heroes-of-wwii-honoured-in-city-artwork/CCPIQZNUWDIZAE5TGSM7AKPW7Y/ |title=Flying heroes of WWII honoured in city artwork |newspaper=[[Rotorua Daily Post]] |first=Alison |last=King |date=11 September 2015 |access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref>

Trigg's complete medal awards are:<ref name=Trigg/><ref name=Spink/>
*[[Victoria Cross]]
*[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
*[[1939–45 Star]]
*[[Atlantic Star]]
*[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]
*[[War Medal 1939–1945]]
*[[New Zealand War Service Medal]]

==See also==
* Sergeant [[Thomas Frank Durrant]] VC (1918-1942), whose award was supported by a recommendation from ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' F. K. Paul after the [[St Nazaire raid]]
* Lieutenant-Commander [[Gerard Broadmead Roope]] VC (1905–1940), whose award was supported by a recommendation and evidence from ''[[Kapitan zur See]]'' [[Hellmuth Heye]], commander of the ''[[German cruiser Admiral Hipper|Admiral Hipper]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Ashcroft |first=Michael |title=Victoria Cross Heroes |year=2007 |orig-year=2006 |publisher=Headline Review |isbn=978-0-7553-1633-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Bowman |first=Martin |year=2014 | title=Battlefield Bombers: Deep Sea Attack |publisher=Pen & Sword |isbn=9781783831975 }}
* {{cite book |last=Halley |first=J.J. |title=Royal Air Force Unit Histories: Volume 1 Nos 1 to 200 Squadron |year=1969 |publisher=[[Air-Britain]] (Historians) |oclc= 929540100 }}
*{{cite book|last1=Harper|first1=Glyn|author-link=Glyn Harper|last2=Richardson|first2=Colin|title=In the Face of the Enemy: The Complete History of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand|year=2007|publisher=HarperCollins|location=Auckland, New Zealand|isbn=978-1-86950-650-6}}
* {{cite book |last= Jefford |first= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife Publishing  |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }}

==External links==
*[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2Epi-c5-WH2-2Epi-a.html New Zealand Electronic Text Centre] – a more detailed report of the action.
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026220057/http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7572/nzvcross.txt |date=26 October 2009 |title=Lloyd Trigg in a listing of New Zealanders who have won the VC }}
*[http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/nz-vc-winners.htm Lloyd Trigg in a listing of New Zealanders who have won the VC] - with a picture of his medals.
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggatsea.htm Burial location of Lloyd Trigg] "Aircraft crashed into the sea, no known grave".
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbtrigg.htm News item]" Lloyd Trigg's Victoria Cross sold at auction".
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080905044938/http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/u-boat-captain-who-shot-down-nz-vc-winner-found-7724.html NZPA release] "U-boat captain who shot down NZ VC-winner found".

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trigg, Lloyd Allan}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the Northland Region]]
[[Category:Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:New Zealand World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:New Zealand military personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:New Zealand World War II pilots]]
[[Category:New Zealand World War II bomber pilots]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance pilots]]
[[Category:People educated at Whangarei Boys' High School]]