Engagement Announced.
The engagement is announced between Mary Elizabeth (Betty), eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. McComb, Narrow Neck, and Acting-Pilot Officer William Harcourt Coleman, 97th Bomber Squad. R.A.F., England, second son of the late Mr. V. Coleman, and Mrs. Arthur Walton, of Devonport. -Auckland Star, 9/3/1938.
MISSING — BELIEVED DEAD
ANOTHER NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN
[Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 29. Cabled advice has been received that Flying Officer William Harcourt Coleman (23), reported missing, is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on the night of July 25. Born at Christchurch, he was the son of the late Mr V, H. Coleman. His mother, Mrs Arthur Walton, now resides at Derby street, Devonport. He was educated at St. Mary’s Convent School, Christchurch, and the Christchurch Technical College. At the age of 15 he was the youngest active member of the Christchurch Gliding Club. Later he was trained at the Auckland Aero Club. He went to England in 1937 before the Government training scheme was in operation, and joined the R.A.F. He was to have come to New Zealand last year with the flight of Wellington bombers. Since the outbreak of war he had commanded a Wellington bomber and had made many flights over Germany and Norway. -Evening Star, 29/7/1940.
AIRMAN MISSING.
BELIEVED KILLED.
FORMERLY OF AUCKLAND.
FLYING-OFFICER COLEMAN.
Relatives of Flying-Officer William Harcourt Coleman, of Auckland, have received cabled advice that he is reported missing, but is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on the night of July 25.
Flying-Officer Coleman, who was 23 years of age, was born in Christchurch, and was the son of the late Mr. V. H. Coleman and Mrs. Arthur Walton. The latter now reeides at 12, Derby Street, Devonport. He was educated at St. Mary's Convent School, Christchurch, and the Christchurch Technical College. After leaving school he joined the office staff of Henry Berry and Company and later for some months was with the Vacuum Oil Company, Pty., Ltd., Auckland.
In Christchurch, he was the youngest active member, at the age of 15, of the Christchurch Gliding Club and made many gliding flights. On coming to Auckland, he joined the Auckland Aero Club and received his early air training at Mangere. In January, 1937, before the Government Air Training Scheme was in operation, he went to England and joined the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of flying-officer. He had attended the world-famous Hamble Air Training School, near Southampton, and had served in several Royal Air Force stations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Last year, Flying-Officer Coleman was chosen to be one of the party which was to have brought out the first flight of Wellington bombers to New Zealand, but the delivery flight was subsequently cancelled as a result of the outbreak of war. He had been in command of a Wellington bomber for some months and had made many flights over Germany, Norway and the Low Countries, including one non-stop flight of 1500 miles. -Auckland Star, 29/7/1940.
William Coleman took off in Wellington R3235 to bomb railway marshalling yards in Kassel, Germany. His plane crashed in Holland's Isselmeer - then the Zuider Zee - 100 metres from the shore. The crew were abvle to exit their plane but all drowned. There were no German nightfighter claims that night so it is assumed they were hit by anti-aircraft fire.
GALLANTRY IN ACTION
NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN
(Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. The citation in connection with the award of the D.F.C. to Flying Officer William Harcourt Coleman, R.N.Z.A.F., states that he has participated in 27 bombing attacks on Germany, Holland, Belgium and France since the beginning of the year, one major bombing attack on Denmark, one night reconnaissance, and a raid on nickel works over Germany. By constant determination and outstanding skill as captain of his aircraft, this officer had set an example of the highest order. -Manawatu Standard, 29/10/1940.
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