Donald Gordon Cobden

Pilot Officer

Battle of Britain Clasp

Awards

Conflict:

WW2

Additional Information:

Son of Alfred Palmerston Cobden and Mabel Elizabeth Cobden, of Papanui, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

References:

Martyn (2008)

NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

All Black No. 430.

He played for Canterbury, and was selected for the first test against the Springboks in August 1937. His test (and All Black) career only lasted 25 minutes, as he was severely injured in a bad tackle. As he was walking and greeted the team at the end of the game, a national selector said he should have returned to the field, and proposed to veto his further selection.

Cobden went to England in 1937, and in 1938 joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission. In England he played for Catford Bridge, Kent, the RAF and the Barbarians.

He was posted to No. 74 Squadron RAF, which was flying Spitfires from RAF Hornchurch in Essex during the Battle of France and then the Battle of Britain. On 11 August 1940, he was despatched with members of 76 Squadron to protect a convoy, and they engaged a large group of Messerschmitt BF 110s about 10 miles off the coast of Harwich. He was last seen alttacking a number of enemy aircraft, and failed to return. He was posted missing - on his 26th birthday.

He was born in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch Boys' High School. His brother Alf was also killed; in North Africa in 1942 while with the New Zealand Army.

Source - Wikipedia

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Casualty

Service Number:

41552

Name:

Donald Gordon Cobden

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Date of Birth:

11 August 1914

Place of Birth:

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

29 August 1938

Unit:

Royal Air Force, 74 Squadron

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed on air operations

Date of Death:

11 August 1940

Day of Death:

Sunday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Embarkment Date:

02 September 1939

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Oostende New Communal Cemetery

Cemetery Reference:

Plot 9. Row 3. Grave 24.

Cemetery Location:

Belgium