Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of George Alexander Court and Teca May Court, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Digital gallery of Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
This outdoor plaque is located at Victoria College, part of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. “They were valiant in life and triumphant in death. [Victoria University Crest - Abeunt studia in mores]. Erected to the memory of the students of this college who gave their lives in the Great War 1939-1945. This tablet was erected by the Board of Regents and Dedicated October 13th, 1953”. Among the 79 names inscribed is that of: “Donald Alexander Court”. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Sgt D. A. COURT R.C.A.F.” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 15 reads: Sgt Pilot Donald Alexander COURT 411 Sqn RCAF. Former student Victoria College, 1941. Missing, presumed dead, after an air operation overseas, 8 December 1941. Name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Cooper's Hill, Egham, Surrey, England.
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Star January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Star January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
From the Toronto Telegram December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flight Sergeant Donald Alexander Court
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
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The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.
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This outdoor plaque is located at Victoria College, part of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. “They were valiant in life and triumphant in death. [Victoria University Crest - Abeunt studia in mores]. Erected to the memory of the students of this college who gave their lives in the Great War 1939-1945. This tablet was erected by the Board of Regents and Dedicated October 13th, 1953”. Among the 79 names inscribed is that of: “Donald Alexander Court”. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
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The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Sgt D. A. COURT R.C.A.F.” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
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Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
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University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 15 reads: Sgt Pilot Donald Alexander COURT 411 Sqn RCAF. Former student Victoria College, 1941. Missing, presumed dead, after an air operation overseas, 8 December 1941. Name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Cooper's Hill, Egham, Surrey, England.
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From the Toronto Star January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star June 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Telegram December 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 27 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey, United Kingdom
During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."
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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