Military service
Burial/memorial information
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.
Digital gallery of Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Digital gallery of
Private Philippe Donati
Image gallery
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 292 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Calvados, France
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.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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