English Māori William Ralph McComb Born 10 May 1912 - Died 26 January 1940 PDF Key details Service numberWWII NZ40241 AWMM Also known asBill AWMM Armed force / branchAir Force AWMM Last rankPilot Officer AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force, Bomber Command, 102 Squadron, RAF AWMM WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Enquire Lay a poppy Portrait, P/O William Ralph McComb in uniform, 1938 - This image may be subject to copyright View gallery Hide sources Show empty fields Identity About Contribute › Title ForenamesWilliam Ralph AWMM SurnameMcComb AWMM Ingoa Also known asBill AWMM Service numberWWII NZ40241 AWMM GenderMale AWMM Iwi Hapū Waka Rohe ReligionAnglican, Christian AWMM Images and documents Images Contribute › Documents Contribute › Civilian life About birth Contribute › Birth10 May 1912 AWMM Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Date of birth Place of birth Birth notes Address before enlistmentWW2 93 East Tamaki Rd, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Post war occupation Next of kin on embarkationWW2 Ralph McComb (father), 93 East Tamaki Rd, Papatoetoe, New Zealand AWMM Relationship statusPre 1 July 1937 AWMM Single/WWII AWMM Service Wars and conflicts Contribute › WarWorld War II, 1939-1945 AWMM Campaign Armed force / branchAir Force AWMM Service numberWWII NZ40241 AWMM Military serviceCommissioned 2nd Lieutenant with Royal Engineers, Territorial Forces prior to WWII. AWMM Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers Military decorations Contribute › Medals and Awards Training and Enlistment Contribute › Military training Branch Trade Proficiency EnlistmentWW2 Unknown AWMM Age 27 AWMM Carpenter/Civilian AWMM Occupation before enlistment Age on enlistment Embarkations Contribute › Embarkation detailsInter War Pilot Officer AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM Prisoner of war Contribute › Capture details Days interned Liberation date Liberation Repatriation POW liberation details POW serial number Medical history Contribute › Medical notesHeight, Unknown Period AWMM 5 feet 11 inches AWMM Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM Fair AWMM Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM Blue AWMM Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM Admitted to York Hospital suffering from suspected meningitis (cerebro-spinal), 24 January 1940 AWMM Died of Disease, Cause of Death AWMM Meningitis AWMM Last known rank Contribute › Last rankPilot Officer AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force, Bomber Command, 102 Squadron, RAF AWMM Biographical information Biographical information Contribute › Pilot Officer McComb was the son of Ralph and Marian McComb, of Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand. Family lived on Waiheke Island He was raised Presbyterian and attended Auckland Grammar School, where he matriculated.In 1937, Pilot Officer McComb was one of 300 New Zealanders to apply for the RAF 4-Year Short Service Commission. He was one of 18 to be selected. He left for England in July 1937.On 24 January 1940, Pilot Officer McComb was found wandering in the corridor near his quarters in a delirium, suffering from great head and neck pain. He was taken to York Hospital, where he was diagnosed with cerebro-spinal meningitis. He died two days later.McComb was due to be discharged from RAF service in 1941. AWMM Read more Death About death Contribute › Death26 January 1940 AWMM Age 27 AWMM York, Yorkshire AWMM Date of death Age at death Place of death Cause of deathDied of Disease AWMM Death notes CemeteryDriffield Cemetery, Yorkshire, England AWMM Grave 6125 AWMM Cemetery name Grave reference Obituary Memorial name Memorial reference Memorials Memorial Contribute › Memorial nameAuckland Grammar School War Memorial, New Zealand AWMM Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM Roll of Honour Remember William Ralph McComb by laying a poppy. William Aitchison Driscoll McComb William Collingwood McComb William Ralph McComb David McCombe George Henry Joseph McCombe Lay a poppy for 2021 Leave a note Leave a tribute or memory of William Ralph McComb Leave a note Contribute › Processing Related objects Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945 Library / Pictorial › manuscripts and archives MS-1993-139 Sources Sources Contribute › External links DocumentsMartyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM Information kindly provided by family AWMM Cenotaph data entry form AWMM Information kindly provided by family AWMM Unpublished papers: family papers AWMM 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. Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License