Amazing story, sounds like a very humble and deserving recipient.
Came across this story today while sidetracked:
Quote:
F/O Lloyd Allan Trigg VC DFC (5 May 1914–11 August 1943), of Houhora, New Zealand, was a pilot in the RNZAF. He was the only serviceman in either World War I or World War II to be awarded a Victoria Cross on evidence solely provided by the enemy, for an action in which there were no surviving Allied witnesses to corroborate his gallantry.
Trigg was an experienced pilot attached to 200 Squadron RAF, operating with Coastal Command. He was flying his first operational flight in a Liberator V (having previously flown Hudsons), over the Atlantic from his base in Bathurst, West Africa (now Banjul, The Gambia), on 11 August 1943 when he engaged the German submarine U-468, under the command of Klemens Schamong.
His aircraft received several catastrophic hits from the anti-aircraft guns during his approach to drop depth charges and was on fire as Trigg made his final attack. It then crashed, killing Trigg and his crew, so the only witnesses to his high courage were the U-boat crew members.
The U-boat sank but the seven survivors were rescued by a Royal Navy vessel and the captain reported the incident, recommending Trigg be decorated for his bravery. The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.
In May 1998, Trigg's VC was sold at auction by Spinks of London for £120,000, the equal highest price ever realised for a VC at that time. The seller was not believed to have been a relative of Trigg and the buyer was anonymous.
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Wikipedia's
article on the VC is really worth a read, including this piece of little gem of military tradition:
"There is a widespread erroneous myth that it is statutory for "all ranks to salute a bearer of the Victoria Cross." There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a private soldier awarded a VC or GC."