| Rank | Spr. |
| Service # | A48710 |
| Unit # | 20TH Field Coy, RCE |
Born and raised in Chatham the son of Mrs. George and Winnifred (Taylor) Sommerville of R. R. # 2 Ridgetown, ON. Donald attended school in Chatham. His grandfather was Thomas Taylor, who was born in Chatham 80 years ago. His mother was born in Chatham as was her son Sapper Donald. He attended the Chatham school.
Spr. Somerville enlisted in February 1941 and served with the 20th Coy. of the RCE. He completed his Sapper training at Camp Petawawa, ON. He arrived in England in July of 1941 joining the Canadian Base units Construction Company RCE. He spent the three years training in England working on construction projects for Canadian Army and the defense of Britain.
In May of 1944 Donald was reassigned to the 23rd Field Company they had been training for two years for their role of the invasion of France.
He went to Normandy aboard the Liberty Ship M.S. Lee Overman on the shore of Juno Beach 11 July. Juno was still jammed with offloading ships, the water was still full of debris as well the occasional corpse from the D-Day invasion.
His first taste of combat was during the approach on the outskirts of Caen. The 23rd field Company was charged with clearing a road way through the city of Cean. The German troops put up a stiff resistance and was hotly contested. After clearing and repairing the roadway a.k.a “Andy’s Alley”. they constructed a ‘Reynolds Bridge’ [in memory of Capt. George Reynold, who was killed just prior to the bridges construction], across the Orne River.
The 23rd continued on with road construction until 27 August when they were assigned to a mission to conduct a crossing of the Seine River near Pont de L’Arche with the 4th Armoured division. Donald and his company had trained extensively in England on British “Storm Boats’. The crossing was successful. For sometime 23rd Field Company continued to ferry the allied forces until 31 August.
Their next task was to build a bridge across the Seine River and they completed that task in less than twenty-four hours. They also supported the advance into Belgium and Holland.
As part of the RCE he assisted in Operation BERLIN the rescue of British airborne troops trapped in the Arnham area in Holland, part of Operation Market Garden, of “A Bridge Too Far” fame.
The CDN 15/02/45 reported that Donald was reported still on active service with the 23rd RCE.
Donald finished the war with the 20th Field Company where he was transferred after returning to duty after being injured in Holland.
Served with the 20th Coy. of the RCE he went to Normandy on D-Day and served on the continent. As part of the RCE he assisted in the rescue of British airborne troops trapped in the Arnham area in Holland part of Operation Market Garden, of “A Bridge Too Far” fame.
Reported returning to Canada from overseas duty aboard the troopship “Pasteur” expect to dock at Quebec City on the 22nd of September 1945. CDN 20/09/45. Reported arriving from overseas duty aboard the transport S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam, arriving at Halifax, NS.
After demobilization Donald took over a portion of the family farm, he acquired from the “Veteran’s Land Act”. During the Korean War Donald worked on the fabrication of the Lockhead T-33 a “Trainer’ aircraft at Canadaire. After that he worked at a variety of different jobs including a 17 year stint with the General Electric Co.
Donald was knighted by the French government in 2015. Additional information on Facebook – https:www.facebook.com/groups/Donalddarlene/ and a website : http:stormboatkings.ca/
World War II Sapper, Donald Somerville, meets today’s sapper in Petawawa, September 2016. Donald was with No. 1 Construction Coy., R.C.E., 23rd Field Company, R.C.E. and 20th Field Company, R.C.E. in that order. Donald was the inspiration of my research into my book River Assault. He was the one who first told me about the operation. (taken and supplied by his daughter Darlene)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | CDN (15/02/45(P), 20/09/45(P)232/09/45, 29/09/45), CFF-FD44, M. Minogue (granddaughter). |
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