Dennis Donnini

Dennis Donnini
Born	7 November 1925 Easington, County Durham
Died	18 January 1945 Stein, Germany
Buried at	Sittard War Cemetery, Netherlands
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1944 - 1945
Rank	Fusilier
Unit	The Royal Scots Fusiliers
Battles/wars	World War II †
Awards	Victoria Cross

Dennis Donnini VC (17 November 1925 - 18 January 1945) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Dennis Donnini was born to Italian-born Alfred Donnini and his English wife Catherine (née Brown), on 17 November 1925 in Easington. His father owned an ice cream parlour in Easington and attended Corby Grammar School in Sunderland, now known as St. Aidans School.

Details

Donnini was 19 years old, and a fusilier in the 4/5th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 January 1945 during Operation Blackcock, Fusilier Donnini's platoon was ordered to attack the small village of Stein in The Netherlands, close to the German border. On leaving their trench they immediately came under heavy fire from a house and the fusilier was hit in the head. After recovering consciousness he charged 30 yards down the open road and hurled a grenade through the nearest window, whereupon the enemy fled pursued by Fusilier Donnini and the survivors of his platoon. He was wounded a second time, but continued firing his Bren gun until he was killed after the grenade he was carrying, was hit by a bullet and exploded. His gallantry had enabled his comrades to overcome twice their own number of the enemy.

Donnini at 19 was the youngest soldier in World War II to be awarded the VC^[1]

He is buried at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Sittard, The Netherlands^[2]

References

1. ^ MOD website
2. ^ CWGC entry

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Battle for the Roermond Triangle - revised version 2004 at www.operation-blackcock.com

Persondata
Name	Donnini, Dennis
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	17 November 1925
Place of birth	Easington, County Durham
Date of death	18 January 1945
Place of death	Stein, Germany