Forenames

Ralph Austin AWMM

Surname

Colbeck AWMM

Service number

• NZD2817 AWMM
• WWII NZD2817 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Navy AWMM

Service number

• NZD2817 AWMM
• WWII NZD2817 AWMM

Military service

• Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Scheme F AWMM
  Hostilities Only Scheme 'F' AWMM
• Royal New Zealand Navy AWMM
• Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Scheme F AWMM
• Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, 886 Naval Air Squadron
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 3 May 2024 - https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/275141

Medals and Awards

1939-45 Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal

Public - Gillian - Researcher - 19 December 2025 - Military personnel file

Military training

Trained in England and Canada. AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve AWMM

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

WW2 Sub Lieutenant (A) AWMM
Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Attacker AWMM

Death

11 Nov 1943 AWMM
Age  21 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed on Active Service AWMM

Cemetery

Burscough Bridge (St John the Baptist) Churchyard, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England AWMM Sec. E Grave 2566 AWMM

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Matakawau Memorial Hall, 2615 Awhitu Road, Āwhitu AWMM
• Waiuku War Memorial, George Street, Waiuku AWMM
• King's College Memorial Chapel at King's College, Otahuhu, Auckland, World War 2 Roll of Honour.
  Public - King's College Archive - Researcher - 18 May 2026 - King's College Memorial Chapel

Related objects

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2698175
  Sources Used
• Record Book of Naval Personnel - c.1920-1945 - Lists Navy number, alphabetical list of names of ratings trained in England, numerical lists of officers. Archives New Zealand, R21346617, AAYT 8495 N12
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21346617
  Further Reference
• https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/886_Squadron.htm
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 3 May 2024 - Internet research
• https://laituk.org/Seafires%20LR693%20&%20NM929.html
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 3 May 2024 - Internet research
• https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/275141
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 3 May 2024 - Internet research
• Accident loss report:
  http://www.aircrewremembered.com/colbeck-ralph-austin.html
  Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 8 December 2021 - http://www.aircrewremembered.com/colbeck-ralph-austin.html

References

• Allison, D. (2009). Flying Navy: The story of New Zealanders who flew in the Fleet Air Arm in World War I and World War II and the Roll of Honour of those who died in action and on active service. Auckland, N.Z.: Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand.
• The King's collegian
  Collegian 1943, p.29
• Royal New Zealand Navy List (c.1921-c.1970) - kindly provided by Ralph McNabb. This list was not collated by McNabb but was sourced from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
• Record Book of Naval Personnel - c.1920-1945 - Lists Navy number, alphabetical list of names of ratings trained in England, numerical lists of officers. Archives New Zealand, R21346617, AAYT 8495 N12
• Personnel - War service - Required for RN [Royal Navy] - Fleet air arm (naval airmen) - Scheme F (Part 3), Archives New Zealand, R21465677, AAYT 8490
• Personnel - War service - Required for RN [Royal Navy] - Fleet air arm (naval airmen) - Scheme F (Part 5), Archives New Zealand, R21465679, AAYT
• Allison, D., Richards, R., & Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand. (2009). Flying navy : the story of new zealanders who flew in the fleet air arm in world war i and world war ii and the roll of honour of those who died in action and on active service. Auckland [N.Z.] : Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.