Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard

Common card · No. 370372

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, (3 February 1873 – 10 February 1956), was a British military officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force. He has been described as the "Father of the Royal Air Force". During his formative years, Trenchard struggled academically, failing many examinations and only just succeeding in meeting the minimum standard for commissioned service in the British Army. As a young infantry officer, he served in India; with the outbreak of the Boer War, he volunteered for service in South Africa. While fighting the Boers, he was critically wounded; as a result of his injury, he lost a lung, was partially paralysed and returned to Great Britain. On medical advice, Trenchard travelled to Switzerland to recuperate, but owing to the boredom he suffered, took up bobsleighing. After a heavy crash, he found that his paralysis was gone and that he could walk unaided. Following further recuperation, he returned...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Public domain