Donald Cobden
Encyclopedia
Donald Gordon Cobden was a New Zealand All Black
rugby player, No 430 in 1937. He was a wing.
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 attacking 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
.
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby player, No 430 in 1937. He was a wing.
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
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
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
No. 74 Squadron RAF
No. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:...
, which was flying Spitfires from RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
in Essex during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and then the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. On 11 August 1940, he was despatched with members of 76 Squadron
No. 76 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber 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 attacking 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
Christchurch Boys' High School
Christchurch Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 12 hectare site between the suburbs of Riccarton and Fendalton, 4 kilometres to the west of central Christchurch. The school also provides boarding facilities for 130 boys, in a...
. His brother Alf was also killed; in North Africa in 1942 while with the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
.