Eric Joseph Clince

Forenames

Eric Joseph AWMM

Surname

Clince AWMM

Service number

• NZ39658 AWMM
• WWII 39658 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

28 Feb 1918 RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)

Birth notes

Son of Thomas henry & Dora Catherine CLINCE

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 June 2026 - NZ BDM Birth records

Address before enlistment

Rawhitiroa, Taranaki, New Zealand

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 June 2026 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47202499/eric_joseph-clince

Next of kin

• WW2 Mother: Mrs. D. Clince, P. O. Box 56, Eltham AWMM
• WW2 Mother: Mrs. J. Clince of Opua, Bay of Islands AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ39658 AWMM
• WWII 39658 AWMM

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Aircraftman Class 1/Military AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

Eric Clince was the son of Thomas Clince and of Dora Clince (nee Nally), of Rawhitiroa, Taranaki.

He drowned in the Waitemata Harbour.

Attended Technical High School, Hawera (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)) AWMM

Death

6 Nov 1939 AWMM
Age  21 AWMM

Cause of death

• Killed on Active Service AWMM
• Accidentally Drowned in Waitemata Harbour
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 June 2026 - Northern Advocate, 7 November 1939, Page 6

Cemetery

Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Ang. Area H, Row 8, Grave 1. AWMM

Obituary

Opua Aircraftsman Drowned
The body of Mr Eric Joseph Clince, aged 21, of Opua, Bay of Islands, w,as recovered from the upper part of Auckland harbour yesterday. Mr Clince was an aircraftsman stationed ,at the Hobsonville air base. The body was discovered near the seaplane slipway at the base by a Public Works ganger, Mr J. N 4 Wouldes, when crossing the harbour in a dinghy shortly before 7 o’clock. Mr Clince had been on leave since 2 p.m. on Saturday, and was expected to report back to his unit at 4 p.m. When he failed to .appear it caused no concern, as he was to go leave again on Sunday, and it was presumed that he had missed the boat to Hobsonville.

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 June 2026 - Northern Advocate, 7 November 1939, Page 6

Memorial name

Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2919526
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845608
  Sources Used

References

• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608) - Former archives reference: AIR118
• Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.