Trevallion, Leonard John Frank “Len” (Oral history)

British civilian served with Metropolitan Police in GB, 1935- 1941; aircraftman and officer served with Royal Air Force in GB and USA, 1941-1943; served with 13 Sqdn Royal Air Force in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1944; served with 137 Maintenance Unit Royal Air Force in Malta, 1944; served with Royal Air Force in GB, 1944-1945; civilian served with Metropolitan Police in GB, 1945-1965

REEL 1 Background in Walthamstow, GB, 1918-1935: memories of childhood; education; attack from dog; medical treatment received; events during hospitalisation; further details of education; memories of First World War; family business; civilian work; process of joining police force. Aspects of period as civilian with Metropolitan Police in GB, 1935-1941: clothing worn during training at Peel House; memories of Norman Jones and posting to Putney; story of visit to Horseferry Road watery; inoculations; accommodation in Wandsworth Section House; supply of meals; accommodation in Putney Section House; learning of beats including contents of Police Boxes; briefing at start of shift; make-up of shift; details of overtime; time off allowed for sports; story of dead body on first shift. REEL 2 Continues: story of report made on a dead body; involvement in Putney Town Regatta, 1937; duties during 1937 Coronation and story of meeting wife; details of Police Ball; application to become police driver and previous experience; driving training at Hendon; driving duties including cars driven; story of suicide found in Richmond Park; reactions to seeing dead bodies; gas precaution training; taking of civil service exam; story of attending failed suicide bid; marriage; work of wife; involvement in recording bomb falls with Philip Kirby-Green including story of near miss; preparations for approaching war; story of German air crew and subsequent air raid; story of unexploded bomb in Barnes; air raid in Putney; story of one woman's near miss from a bomb; story of falling landmines. REEL 3 Continues: bombings of Putney Section House; details of war reserve policemen; dealing with casualties following bombing of Wandsworth Fire Station including duties at Kingston Vale Cemetery; story of 15/9/1940 air raid and damage caused; hospitalisation and convalescence in Hove; memories of wireless operator Charlie Martin including story of German spies; story of dismantling an unexploded incendiary bomb; reasons for applying to Royal Air Force; loss of policemen from Putney to air force including reaction of colleagues; interview and tests for Royal Air Force. REEL 4 Continues: wait for call-up; story of near miss from bomb; air raids on Putney. Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in GB, 8/1941-11/1941: processing at Lord's Cricket Ground; accommodation; supply of meals at London Zoo; background of fellow recruits; posting to Scarborough Initial Training Wing; duties including later advantages during voyage aboard SS Pasteur; details of escort; journey to Montgomery including rations. Aspects of period as aircraftman with Royal Air Force in USA, 1941-1942: rifle drill; armistice parade; news of attack on Pearl Harbour; learning to fly in Lakeland including proficiency and acrobatics performed; discipline; British instructors in USA; relationship with Lipford family. REEL 5 Continues: later contact with Betty Lipford; flying of Harvard, aka T-6 Texan, airplane; story of night flying exercise; end of training and commission; later contact with colleagues; return voyage to Britain. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1942- 1943: activities and training in Bournemouth; buying of uniform; home leave; training on Airspeed Oxford and Bristol Blenheim; stories of accidents; memories of crew members Leonard Rivet and Freddy Chapman; story of problems with a Bristol Blenheim Mk V; details of subsequent flight to Gibraltar including problems with navigation and landing. REEL 6 Continues: reunion with Philip Kirby-Green; relationship with crew; later reactions to losing colleagues in Italy; flight to Blida and delivery of Bristol Blenheim; offer of position in Blida. Aspects of operations as officer with 13 Sqdn Royal Air Force in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1944: summary of operational duties; reflections on service; story of stepping on sea urchin; modifications made to Bristol Blenheim Mk V; leisure activities; need for and details of detachments; convoy patrols including searches for submarines; exercises; dropping of depth charges; rumours following cessation to building of the Bristol Blenheim; opinion of Bristol Blenheim and aircraft later used by unit; story of flight in Lockheed Ventura to Oran; return flight to squadron; flying of Martin Baltimore; description of close support bombing including role in Italy. REEL 7 Continues: practice exercises in North Africa; reason for switch to night raids; landing in dark; loss of aircraft; health problems; hospitalisation in Foggia; leave in Sorrento; posting away from squadron; stress from duties; story of attack on a convoy; examples of bad flying; tactic for attacking convoys; success of patrols; comparison of Bristol Blenheim and Martin Baltimore aeroplanes; reflections on operations; importance of number 13 in life. Aspects of period as officer with 137 Maintenance Unit in Malta, 1944: details of posting; taxing planes from Safi to Luqa; test flights; story of concerns about wife and posting home; situation on Malta; activities with South Africans in mess at Safi; flight to GB. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Air Force in GB, 1944-1945: pass through customs; journey to Northolt and home. REEL 8 Continues: health problems of wife; reception from daughter; posting to No 7 Flying Instruction School at Upavon; details of courses attended; memories of airmen at Upavon; duties with Operational Training Unit at Weston-on-the-Green; demobilisation and reason for not staying in Royal Air Force. Aspects of period as civilian with Metropolitan Police in GB, 1945-1965: return to Putney; story of robbery on Putney High Street; subsequent health problems; story of armed robbery in Earl Spencer Pub; resulting trials and escape of perpetrators from prison; settling into civilian life including relationship with colleagues; posting to Notting Hill; murder cases while at Notting Hill; posting to vice squad; story of man arrested in 10 Rillington Place and contact with John Christie including later appearance on television programme about meeting; discussion of Evans murder including contact with Timothy Evans after his trial; description of abortions performed by the Christies for local prostitutes and connections to murder of Ethel Christie; suppression of elements Christie's crimes. REEL 9 Continues: discussion of Christie murders; story of hair clippings found during attendance at exhumation of bodies at 10 Rillington Place; contact with John Christie in his cell; other murders in area; memories of George Outram; period as instructor at Hendon; promotion to inspector at Kensington; dealing with VIPs; reasons for not accepting further promotions; looking after Yuri Gagarin during visit to Earl's Court; involvement with North Kensington youth club; lectures given about experiences with vice squad; memories of Betty Rose; retirement from police and story of gaining work at Royal Garden Hotel; contact with MI5; care of Jules Rimet Trophy; involvement with banquet for 1966 World Cup winning England team; further details of duties; second retirement; story of work with Ministry of Defence; life since final retirement.