Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Philippe Donati

In memory of:

Private Philippe Donati

July 21, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

E/6115

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

The 1939-1945 Star, The France and Germany Star, The Defence Medal, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, The 1939-1945 Medal.

Additional Information

Born:

October 25, 1919
Québec, Quebec

Enlistment:

January 28, 1942
Valcartier, Quebec

Philippe was the son of Georges Donati and Amanda Martel. Prior to enlistment he worked as a cook. He married Thérèse Bernier on July 12th, 1941. His first son, André was born in September 1942. Philippe left for Europe in September 1943, two months before the birth of his second son, Réal. He never knew his second son, having died in Normandy on July 21st, 1944.

After Philippe’s death, friend and company corporal, Cpl Jules Sirois began corresponding with his widow Thérèse. They eventually fell in love and married the year after Jules returned to Canada, following the war. Together they had a daughter, Lise and a son, Daniel. Jules Sirois died on June 17, 2005 at the age of 86 and Thérèse Bernier Donati Sirois died on June 16, 2018 at the age of 97.

André became a Mechanical Engineer, his education paid for through the orphans’ legislation of Veterans Affairs Canada. He retired in 2001 from an executive position at Canada Post. Réal served in the Canadian Forces and retired with the rank of Master Warrant Officer after 33 years of service.

Commemorated on Page 292 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XIII. F. 16.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Correspondence– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Correspondence
    Correspondence – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Telegram– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Telegram
    Telegram – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Gravestone of Philippe Donati at Canadian War Cemetery of Bretteville-sur_Laize, Normandy

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Gravestone of Philippe Donati at Canadian War Cemetery of Bretteville-sur_Laize, Normandy
  • Photo of Philippe Donati– Photo of Philippe taken In Scotland on January 24th, six months before his death. Philippe Donati was born on October 25th, 1919. He married Therese Bernier on July 12th 1941. His first son, André was born on Sep, 20 1942. Philippe left for Europe in September of 1943, two months before the birth of his second son, Réal. In fact, he never met his second son, as he died in Normandy, on July 21th, 1944.

    Details

    Photo of Philippe Donati
    Photo of Philippe Donati – Photo of Philippe taken In Scotland on January 24th, six months before his death. Philippe Donati was born on October 25th, 1919. He married Therese Bernier on July 12th 1941. His first son, André was born on Sep, 20 1942. Philippe left for Europe in September of 1943, two months before the birth of his second son, Réal. In fact, he never met his second son, as he died in Normandy, on July 21th, 1944.
  • Photo of the Donati Family– This photo is of Phillipe's wife, Therese, and his two sons, André and Réal. The photo was taken in the summer of 1944.

    Details

    Photo of the Donati Family
    Photo of the Donati Family – This photo is of Phillipe's wife, Therese, and his two sons, André and Réal. The photo was taken in the summer of 1944.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: