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421076 Sergeant Thomas Victor MARCHANT.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Marchant of WANGANUI.

Thomas Marchant was born at Sydenham, England, on the 23rd January, 1920, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand at an early age. He received his secondary education at the Wanganui Technical College, afterwards attending night classes in engineering and electrical subjects at the same college. From the time of leaving school until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 5th March, 1941, he was employed as a wireman by D.A. Morrison and Company Limited at Wanganui.

Sergeant Marchant was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 7th February 1942, and moved with the Wing to Rotorua later in the month. He proceeded to Harewood on the 5th April for his elementary flying training and then on the 13th June went to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here, on the 2nd September, he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 26th November, afterwards being posted to Ohakea for operational training on Kittyhawk aircraft. He was then transferred to No. 16 Squadron and moved with the Squadron to Woodbourne on the 9th February 1943.

Sergeant Marchant was the pilot of a Kittyhawk aircraft which crashed at Wainui-o-mata, near Wellington, on the 1st May 1943, Sergeant Marchant losing his life. He was buried in the Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui.

5/2/8629 A.S.2.
No Log Book.

Mrs. C.J. Marchant (M), (right aligned)
24 Fergusson Street, (right aligned)
WANGANUI. (right aligned & underlined)