Frank Keith Morcombe DFC (1913 - 1943)

Born 18 Aug 1913 in Goode, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Alma Dorothea (Broun) Mathews — married 20 Feb 1936 (to 5 Oct 1943) in Pingelly, Western Australia, Australia

Died 5 Oct 1943 at age 30 in Sale, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Frank was born in Goode, South Australia during 1913. He is the son of William George Morcombe and Alice Elizabeth Moody. He passed away in Sale, Victoria, Australia during 1943.

Frank was born in Goode, South Australia on 18 August 1913 to William George Morcombe and Alice Elizabeth Moody.^[1]

Frank married Alma Dorothea Broun in Pingelly, Western Australia on 20 February 1936.^[2][3] The following wedding report was published in the Western Australian newspaper, The Irwin Index, on 7 March 1936:^[3]

MORCOMBE—BROUN. CEREMONY AT PINGELLY. At St. Luke's Church at Pingelly on the 20th ult. a very pretty wedding was solemnised by the Rev. Attwell, the contracting parties being Mr. Frank Keith Morcombe, second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Morcombe, of Waddy Forest, and Miss Alma Dorothea Broun, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. McB. Broun, of Pingelly. The bride presented a charming girlish figure in heavy ivory satin, fitting close to the figure with a long train inlet to the skirt, the corsage being beautifully shirred with soft roll collar and trimmed with lilies of the valley. She also wore a beautifully hand-worked net veil held in position with a coronet of orange blossom. The bridesmaids were Miss Beryl Broun (sister of the bride) and Miss Eileen Morcombe (sister of the bridegroom). both being dressed in eau-de-nil crepe finished with fancy chromium belts. The head-dress of both was of dainty silver leaves and tulle, silver shoes completing a very pretty and effective toilette. Both ladies also wore a necklet of rhinestones, the gift of the bridegroom. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr. Tom Morcombe and Mr. Melvin Broun officiated as groomsman. The bride's mother (Mrs. J. Broun) looked charming in grey and black marocain frock with a chic black straw hat to tone, the bridegroom's mother (Mrs. W. G. Morcombe) making a smart figure in black and white marocain with a black swagger coat and black hat. After the ceremony the bride's parents (Mr. and Mrs. Broun) entertained a number of relatives and friends at the Pingelly Town Hall, where the usual toasts incidental to such happy occasions were honored. At the bridal table a beautiful three-tiered wedding cake was given pride of place, Mr. and Mrs. Morcombe subsequently left on a honeymoon trip to Albany, the bride's travelling dress being of pale beige trimmed with idealing and a hat to match.

Frank served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. He enlisted in Perth, Western Australia on 3 February 1941. He was killed in Sale, Victoria, Australia on 5 October 1943 as the result of an aircraft crash. At death, he held the rank of Flight Lieutenant with a posting to the No. 1 Operational Training Unit.^[4]

The following report published in the Victorian newspaper, The Age, on 9 October 1943 briefly discusses the circumstances of the aircraft accident:^[5]

TRAINING FLIGHT FATALITY. Instructor and Pupil Killed. A flying instructor who had won the D.F.C. and a trainee pilot were killed on Tuesday when an aircraft from an R.A.A.F. station in Victoria crashed while on a training flight. They were:—Flight Lieutenant Frank Keith Morcombe, D.F.C., 30 years, of Pingelly (W.A.), flying instructor. Sergeant James Whamond Cameron, 26 years, of Braeside (S.A.), pilot.

The following death notices were published in the newspaper, The Western Australian, on 11 October 1943:^[6]

MORCOMBE. Frank Keith (DFC. F/Lt, RAAF).—In loving memory of Keith, who lost his life as result of aircraft accident, Victoria, October 5. Inserted by his sorrowing aunty Phoebe and uncle Price, and cousins, Reata, Kevin, June and Marion Hunt, Waddy Forest. One of the very best. Loved by all who knew him.

MORCOMBE. Frank Keith. DFC (F/Lt, RAAF), as result of aircraft accident, loved nephew of Mrs Folland and cousin of Gilbert and Nance (Waddy Forest).

Frank was buried at the Sale War Cemetery in Sale, Victoria.^[7]

The following memorial notices were published in the newspaper, The West Australian, on 5 October 1944:^[8]

MORCOMBE (F/Lt Keith. DFC). so dearly loved, so sadly missed by his sorrowing wife Alma, little ones, Michael and Sue (Armadale).

MORCOMBE.—In sad and loving memory of our dear Son, F/Lt Frank Keith Morcombe, DFC, who lost his life in an aircraft accident at Sale, Victoria, October 5, 1943. Inserted by his sorrowing father and mother, Mr and Mrs W. G. Morcombe (Armadale).

MORCOMBE.—A tribute to the memory of our dear Brother, F/Lt Keith Morcombe. DFC, who lost his life at Sale, October 5, 1943. Inserted by his brothers and sisters, Mary (Mrs Brown (sic), Mt Lawley), Tom (Waddy Forest), Brian (interned, Borneo), Eileen (WAAAF. Wagga, NSW). John (RAAF, Geraldton), Barbara (KEMH ), Gordon and Miles (Armadale).

MORCOMBE (F/Lt Keith, DFC).—On October 5, 1943, dearly loved brother-in-law of Beryl and Melvin Broun (Pingelly).

Sources

1. ↑ Genealogy SA, Online Database Search for Birth Registration, accessed 13 October 2023 (Subscription required to view full details of the above registration), Search results follow - Surname: MORCOMBE, Given Names: Frank Keith, Date of Birth: 18-Aug-1913, Gender: M, Father: William George MORCOMBE, Mother: Alice Elizabeth MOODY, Birth Residence: Goode, District: Flinders, Book/Page: 918/60
2. ↑ Government of Western Australia, Department of Justice, Births Deaths and Marriages, viewed 22 March 2024, https://bdm.justice.wa.gov.au/_apps/pioneersindex/default.aspx, Search result follows - Surname: Brown (sic), Given Names: Alma Dorothea, Sex: Female, Spouse Surname: Morcombe, Spouse Given Names: Frank Keith, Spouse Sex: Male, Place of Marriage: Pingelly, Year of Marriage: 1936, Registration District: Beverley, Registration Number: 400012, Registration Year: 1936
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} : The Irwin Index (Mingenew, WA : 1926 - 1956) Sat 7 Mar 1936, Page 2: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/252026958
4. ↑ Australian Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, World War Two Service, Search results for MORCOMBE, FRANK KEITH, (Service Number 406572), viewed 23 March 2024, https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1057681&c=WW2#R
5. ↑ 1943 'TRAINING FLIGHT FATALITY', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 9 October, p. 3. , viewed 23 Mar 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206348058
6. ↑ 1943 'Family Notices', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 11 October, p. 1. , viewed 23 Mar 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46771874
7. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Flight Lieutenant FRANK KEITH MORCOMB (sic), viewed 22 March 2024, https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2247760/morcombe,-frank-keith/
8. ↑ 1944 'Family Notices', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 5 October, p. 1. , viewed 23 Mar 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44980572

1943 'Family Notices', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 6 October, p. 1. , viewed 23 Mar 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46771356

National Archives of Australia, MORCOMBE FRANK KEITH : Service Number - 406572 : Date of birth - 18 Aug 1913 : Place of birth - CEDUNA SA : Place of enlistment - PERTH WA : Next of Kin - MORCOMBE ALMA, viewed 23 March 2024, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5247609

External links

• Virtual War Memorial profile
• Find a Grave Memorial
• Profile on Birtwistle Library Wiki
• YouTube, AWM Last Post, Last Post Ceremony: Flight Lieutenant Frank Keith Morcombe - 25 January 2019