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Cenotaph record

Thomas Otto Metcalfe

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Portrait (provided by Thera Helmich.) - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait (provided by Thera Helmich.) - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Thomas Otto AWMM
  • Surname
    Metcalfe AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ414386 AWMM
    • WWII 414386 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    18 July 1923 RNZAF Biographies (R17845613) Norsewood, Manawatu-Wanganui RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Metcalfe of Norsewood 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
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

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

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Thomas Metcalfe was the son of Joseph William Metcalfe, and of Dorothy Mary Metcalfe (nee Moore), of Norsewood, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand; nephew of Ellis Todd (11/862), of Hastings, Hawke's Bay.

    Metcalfe captained Wellington III bomber BJ828. On his fourth operation, he took part in a raid on Dusseldorf, Germany on the night of 10/11 September 1942. His plane was shot down and crashed near Cologne, Germany. Of the five crewmen aboard, four were New Zealanders, including Metcalfe. They were all buried in South Cologne but were later reinterred at Rheinberg.

    There is a reference to Tom Metcalfe in the diary of Sergeant Pilot Raymond Herbert John Broady (NZ39691). [Ref. MS 883]

    The other three New Zealanders were the navigator, Plt Off Kevin Devlin; the air bomber, Sgt Walter Kelcher; and the wireless operator, Sgt Desmond Walshe.

    Attended Dannevirke District High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    11 September 1942 AWMM
    Age 19 AWMM
    Cologne, Germany AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany AWMM Coll. grave 4. A. 20-21. 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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Leave a tribute or memory of Thomas Otto Metcalfe

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  • David Kenneth Price Thomas Otto Metcalfe was my mothers half brother Joseph William Metcalfs son. Therefore he was my cousin.
    Public - David Kenneth - Other Relative - 27 April 2015
    Report 
  • My name is Marie Rose Thompson (Price) daughter of Henry John Price and Jessie Metcalfe. Thomas Otto Metcalfe is my cousin, my Mum's brothers son. RIP Tommy
    Public - Marie - Child - 26 April 2015
    Report 

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
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
      Broady, Raymond Herbert John. Papers, 1911 - 1942. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 883. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743) 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

Contributors

Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
16 February 2021JeniferWairarapaResearcher
27 April 2015David KennethHastings New ZealandOther Relative
26 April 2015MarieLevin New ZealandChild

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