Flight Sergeant Colin Eric TREBILCOCK
20 Sep 1921 – 29 Jan 1944
Colin Eric TREBILCOCK was born on 29th September 1921 to Lancelot Eric and Ida Rose Ann Trebilcock at Woodville. Colin’s parents lived in “the schoolhouse”, Waikerie as Lance was the Head Teacher. Lance was also the Flight Commander of the Waikerie Air Cadets.
Colin was the oldest child and had a brother, Royden. Col worked as a Porter for the South Australian Railways at Waikerie before enlisting.
Colin was married to Eileen Mary RAINEY of Waikerie on the 7th of March, 1942 and they lived at Waikerie. After Colin enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in Adelaide on June 20, 1942, Eileen enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force on 26th March 1943 and was later posted to Melbourne.
After his initial training, Colin embarked overseas on 30th March 1943. He arrived in England on 7th July 1943 and was posted to the Number 10 Squadron, RAF at a base called Melbourne, near Yorkshire in England.
No 10 Squadron were flying Handley Halifax Bomber aircraft and were in constant action, flying on repeated raid missions mainly over Italy and Germany.
On 29-1-44, Colin, his crewmates, and plane after already flying multiple missions, did not return, they were posted as “Missing in Action – Mission Berlin”. On 1-6-1944, Colin was posted as “Missing Presumed Killed” by the RAAF.
Eilleen TREBILCOCK was granted 20 days “special leave without pay” when she was notified Colin had gone missing and was now presumed dead. She continued her valuable service with the WAAAF until the war ended
Colin TREBILCOCK is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour.
Colin is also commemorated with a tree and plaque here in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
