Clive William Pryer RICE. Sergeant Air Observer 402251, Royal Australian Air Force. Stationed at 21 Operational Training Unit at RAF Moreton in Marsh. Born 11 October 1914 in New South Wales to William John and Emily Florence Rice, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Killed when the Wellington Bomber Z1157 he was part crew of collided with another Wellington Bomber R1165 in the air over the bombing range Edgehill, Lancashire at 2100hrs the 28 January 1942 aged 27. Bothe planes landed at RAF Edgehill.
At rest in Moreton on Marsh New Cemetery, Gloucestershire.
Some notes from his Air Force Records -
He joined the Citizen Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force (Overseas) 22 July 1940 aged 25 years and 8 months, occupation car salesman. He was residing c/o Mrs A McIlbrice, Shellbank, 73 Wyong Road, Cremore N.S.W. His mother of Sunnyside, Windsor Road, Kent was his next of kin. Date not known his parents were residing at 153 Wedmore Road, Bromley, Kent. (Both parents were native Australians) He was posted on the day he enlisted to No2 Initial Training School at RAAF Bradfield Park, Lindfield, N.S.W. His rank on joining was Aircraftman class 2, Promoted to Leading Aircraftman 16 September 1940 and Sergeant 22 July 1941. November 1940 he was station at No 4 Elementary Flying Training School. The 12 November 1940 he was flying solo in a Tiger Moth A17-145 at Doughboy, south of Cape Solander when at approximately 0645hrs the engine cut out during aerobatic practice, he made a force landing into the sea. He suffered from shock and immersion; the plane was never recovered. He embarked from Sydney for Canada the 22 February 1941, disembarking Canada for United Kingdom 18 September 1941. Disembarked in England 29 September 1941. He was then posted to RAF Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire.
Following credited to -
http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/crashes1942.htm
28/01/1942 Wellington Z1157 of 21 OTU collided with Wellington R1165 over the bombing range. Both aircraft were badly damaged and both crews baled out, with the exception of the pilot of R1165, Sgt H A Taylor, who bravely nursed his aircraft to a safe landing at Edgehill. Z1157 crashed at Thenford. Sgt C W Rice RAAF did not leave Z1157 and was killed – possibly in the collision. Of the rest of his crew, Sgt A Orr was unhurt, while Sgt Fitton and Sgt Hollingworth were slightly injured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._4_Elementary_Flying_Training_School_RAAF
