The VC diary for 18th January contains the story of just one recipient of the VC – Dennis Donnini VC. He was born in Easington, County Durham in 1925, his father owning an ice cream parlour. On 18th January 1945, during Operation Blackcock, Fusilier Donnini’s platoon was ordered to attack the small village of Stein, Germany, close to the Dutch 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. He was youngest soldier at 19 to be awarded the VC in the Second World War. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Cemetery, Sittard, The Netherlands. His medals are not publicly held.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 07:46:41 +0000
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