A wartime Pembrokeshire airman is especially remembered in this the 80th anniversary year of D-Day thanks to a unique and poignant donation to the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

Trevor Hordley of Pembroke Dock was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber shot down over France in July 1944, soon after the D-Day invasion of Occupied Europe.

Trevor Hordley Pilot Officer
Flying Officer Trevor Hordley was one of three sons of Mr and Mrs Hubert Hordley of Gwyther Street, Pembroke Dock. He joined No 207 Squadron RAF in June 1944 and over the next month flew 13 operations. The 13th, a return mission to bomb a German ‘Vengeance’ weapons storage site on 8th July, was his last, his Lancaster being one of 31 bombers lost that night. He was 24. (Hordley Family Archive)

A section of metal from his aircraft was secreted away from the occupying German forces and in 2013 was given to members of Trevor’s family attending commemorative events held annually in the French community of Serifontaine, near Beauvais.

Five of the Lancaster’s crew, including Trevor, are buried in a Beauvais cemetery.

Now, 11 years on, Trevor’s daughter, Christine – who was born after her father was killed – has donated the relic to the Heritage Centre.

Trevor’s niece and nephew, Pauline Cole and Peter Hordley, were joined by family members when they presented the metal section to the Centre’s team on Christine’s behalf.

Efforts are already underway to try and identify where the piece came from on a Lancaster.

Wartime pilot Trevor Hordley’s family
Wartime pilot Trevor Hordley’s family members with three of the Heritage Centre team. (Photo by: Martin Cavaney Photography) (Photo by: Martin Cavaney Photography)

Plans are to exhibit it alongside an existing information panel telling Trevor Hordley’s story. He was one of over 55,000 Bomber Command aircrew lost on operations in World War II.

The family have also donated the wartime suitcase and other items belonging to Pauline and Peter’s father, Roy Hordley – one of the three brothers who went to war from their home in Pembroke Dock. Only two returned.

The Heritage Centre’s displays interpret the maritime, aviation and military heritage of the town, as well as the social and community heritage of Pembroke Dock.

The Centre is open Mondays to Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm, but not Saturdays or Sundays at present.