"Keith" Frank Keith MORCOMBE
Born 18 August 1913 in Ceduna, South Australia [16]
Son of William George MORCOMBE and Alice Elizabeth MOODY [55]
Resided with his parents on farmland in Ceduna, South Australia 1918-1922 [P32]
After his father purchased prospective farmland in Waddy Forest shifted to Western Australia with his parents in March 1922 [P32]
Resided with his parents on Wynmara Farm in Waddy Forest 1922- [P32]
Student at the newly opened Waddy Forest State School in 1923, and later at the Northam High School [P32]
Farmer of Wynmara Farm in Waddy Forest with his father and brothers - was the "mechanic" on the farm [P86]
Helped his father and brother with shearing on the farm and also worked helping neighbouring farmers with shearing [P32]
Member of the Waddy Forest Cricket Club in 1928-29 and 1930-31 [4: 2-Feb-1929, 15-Nov-1930]
Member of the Waddy Forest Tennis Club in 1933-34 and 1934-35 [5: 20-Oct-1933, 19-Oct-1934]
His engagement to Alma Dorothea BROUN, daughter of C. McB. Broun of Pingelly, was announced in January 1934 [5: 26-Jan-1934]
Alma had been engaged to someone in Pingelly however called it off after meeting Keith while visiting her brother in Coorow [P32]
Along with relatives Phil & Stella MORCOMBE and Stan FOLLAND travelled to Perth by car on Friday 16 March 1934 [5: 23-Mar-1934]
In August 1934 his fiance Alma BROUN spent a two week holiday staying with himself and his parents in Waddy Forest [5: 3-Aug-1934]
Attended the Official Opening of the Coorow Rifle Club's Rifle Range on Saturday 8 September 1934 [5: 14-Sep-1934]
After a visit to Perth he returned to Waddy Forest on 1 July 1935, and was accompanied by his cousin Harold MOODY [5: 5-Jul-1935]
Member of the Coorow Rifle Club 1935-1937 - was A Grade Champion in 1937 [5: 1-Nov-1935, 31-Jul-1936, 2 & 16-Jul-1937]
Himself, his brother Brian and Ivor B. ROBERTS represented the Coorow Rifle Club at a shoot in Perth in October 1935 [5: 4-Oct-1935]
Travelled from Waddy Forest to Perth by car on Friday 14 February 1936 and then to Pingelly for his wedding [5: 21-Feb-1936]
Married Alma Dorothea BROUN on Thursday 20 February 1936 at Saint Luke's Church in Pingelly [5: 21 & 28-Feb-1936]
His best man was his brother "Tom" Philip L. MORCOMBE and his groomsman "Melvin" Aldrick M. BROUN [5]
Following their wedding and a reception at the Pingelly Town Hall they left for Albany, where they spent the honeymoon [5]
They returned to Waddy Forest on Friday 6 March 1936 and began settling into their new home [5: 13-Mar-1936]
Member of the Waddy Forest Group of Toc H in 1937 [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Helped conduct the Toc H Group's Social Evening at the Coorow Hall on 24 June 1937 to raise money for a hospital bed [5]
During the social he gave the Toc H address and played the part of Ernest Barrington in the play "The Wrong Flat" [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Steward of the Grain and Fodder section at the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1937 [150]
He was the Coorow Rifle Club's champion prior to his enlistment in the R.A.A.F.[P86]
Enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 3 February 1941, and graduated from pilot training in Geraldton as a Flying Officer [P86]
In 1942 he was stationed with the Royal Australian Air Force's 2nd Squadron at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia [P86]
Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force's 1st Operational Training Unit in 1943 [16] [18]
Killed in a flying accident on 5 October 1943 in East Sale, Victoria; buried Sale War Cemetery, Sale, Victoria, Australia [17] [18]
Father of Michael and Suellen [P32]
His name appears on the Carnamah War Memorial [35]
He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1943, which was presented to his wife Alma after his death [P86]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 8 October 1943:
"For King and Country - Keith Morcombe (D.F.C.) - It came as a deep shock to residents of the North Midlands to learn early this week that Flight Lieutenant F. K. Morcombe (Distinguished Flying Cross) had been killed in an aircraft accident at East Sale, Victoria, on Tuesday. No further details have been obtainable up till the time of going to press. Aged only 30 years the late Keith Morcombe leaves a widow and two small children, who are temporarily residing at Sale, Victoria. Mrs. Morcombe and two children joined the late gentleman at Sale when he was posted to an instructor's job at that centre recently. The son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. (Bill) Morcombe, of Armadale, and late of "Wynmara," Waddy Forest, the deceased young man was well and favourably known throughout the district. He was for many years employed on their Waddy Forest property and made many close and lasting friendships in the North Midlands. He distinguished himself in the R.A.A.F. and was several times mentioned in despatches. It was only recently that he was awarded the D.F.C."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Frank Keith Morcombe' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/frank-keith-morcombe [reference list] |
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