Dennis Donnini
Fusilier, 4th/5th Battalion. Royal Scots Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 335 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Fusilier all Fusiliers →
- Unit
- 4th/5th Battalion. Royal Scots Fusiliers all Royal Scots Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 January 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 20th March, 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 17th November, 1925 at Easington , County Durham
- Died
- 18th January, 1945 at River Roer, Holland. (killed in
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Sittard War Cemetery, Lindberg, Holland
Digest of citation
On 18th January, 1945 between the rivers Roer and Maas, Holland, Fusilier Donnini's platoon was ordered to attack a small village. 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. His gallantry had enabled his comrades to overcome twice their own number of the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DONNINI, Dennis. (reg No. 335).
Fusilier. 4th/5th Battalion. Royal Scots Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 20th March, 1945.
Born on 17th November, 1925 at Easington , County Durham.
Died on 18th January, 1945 at River Roer, Holland. (killed in action).
Memorial at Sittard War Cemetery, Lindberg, Holland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 18th January, 1945 between the rivers Roer and Maas, Holland, Fusilier Donnini's platoon was ordered to attack a small village. 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. His gallantry had enabled his comrades to overcome twice their own number of the enemy.
action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Sittard War Cemetery, Lindberg, Holland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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