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Cenotaph record

Donald Gordon Cobden

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Headstone of Pilot Officer Donald Gordon Cobden (41552). Oostende New Communal Cemetery, Oostende, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. New Zealand War Graves Trust (BEDC7571). CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Headstone of Pilot Officer Donald Gordon Cobden (41552). Oostende New Communal Cemetery, Oostende, W …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Donald Gordon AWMM
  • Surname
    Cobden AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 41552 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    11 August 1914 AWMM Christchurch, Canterbury AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Cobden of Christchurch AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    Posted to 5FTS (Flying Training School), Sealand 28.1.39 AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
  • Enlistment
    Inter War Aug 1938 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM England, United Kingdom AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
    Shot down by German aircraft AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Donald Cobden was the son of Alfred Palmerston Cobden and Mabel Elizabeth Cobden, of Papanui, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    Educated at Christchurch Boys High School 1927-31

    All Black in 1937

    He was killed on his 26th birthday

    Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940

    Attended Christchurch High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    11 August 1940 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Oostende New Communal Cemetery, Oostende, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium AWMM Plot 9. Row 3. Grave 24. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Chester, R., McMillan, N. & Palenski, R. (2005). The encyclopedia of New Zealand rugby. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa. (4th ed.) AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 85-86 AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books. AWMM
    • Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn]. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784) AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 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. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760). AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
09 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher

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