condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white
Alert!

We're closed

Auckland Museum remains closed to the public during this time. As we are working through assessment and cleaning preparations, we are not yet in a position to confirm a reopening date. We’re sorry for any inconvenience. Find out more.

Cenotaph record

Ralph Austin Colbeck

Lay a poppy
Portrait - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Ralph Austin AWMM
  • Surname
    Colbeck AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZD2817 AWMM
    • WWII NZD2817 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
    Trained in England and Canada. AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

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

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
    • Ralph Colbeck was the son of Wilfred Howard Buckley Colbeck and Mary Winifred Colbeck (nee Clarke) of Puru, Auckland Province.

      Attended King's College 1936-39 where he was a member of School House. He played rugby for the school

      Leaving school, he studied electrical engineering at Auckland University. AWMM
    • 1943: 11th November. Seafire LR693. Wing air exercise.
      Mid-air collision with NM929 (from 808 NAS) flown by Sub-Lieutenant (A) Eric Alwyn Philpott, RNVR and crashed 2½ miles North of Carnforth, Lancashire
      Both pilots killed Public - Antonio - Researcher - 3 May 2024 - Internet research
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    11 November 1943 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Burscough Bridge (St John the Baptist) Churchyard, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England AWMM Sec. E Grave 2566 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • 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

Roll of Honour

Remember Ralph Austin Colbeck by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Ralph Austin Colbeck

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • 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. AWMM
    • The King's collegian AWMM
      Collegian 1943, p.29 AWMM
    • 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. AWMM
    • 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 AWMM
    • Personnel - War service - Required for RN [Royal Navy] - Fleet air arm (naval airmen) - Scheme F (Part 3), Archives New Zealand, R21465677, AAYT 8490 AWMM
    • Personnel - War service - Required for RN [Royal Navy] - Fleet air arm (naval airmen) - Scheme F (Part 5), Archives New Zealand, R21465679, AAYT AWMM
    • 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. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
03 May 2024AntonioHastings DistrictResearcher
08 December 2021KelvinGreat Yarmouth, NorfolkResearcher

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.