Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Donald Thomas

Sources Canadian Virtual War Memorial Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial findagrave.com

Donald Thomas Rifleman L/27406 Regina Rifle Regiment June 7, 1920 Fort QuAppelle, Saskatchewan June 14, 1940 Regina, Saskatchewan 20 5 feet, 8½ inches Dark Brown Black Single (at enlistment) Truck Driver Roman Catholic John Thomas (Father) Lorlie, Saskatchewan (at enlistment) Jean Thomas (Wife) June 6, 1944 23 Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers V. A. 11. Commemorated on page 460 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 3 Donald Thomas was the son of John and Nora Thomas of Peepeekisis, Lorlie, Saskatchewan, husband of Jean Eileen (Gratto) Thomas (1924-2006), and father of Donald Aubry Thomas; both of Truro, Nova Scotia. He was Aboriginal Canadian, of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation. His records indicate he was born in the “File Hill[s] Farm Colony”. He had three brothers, Peter, Joe and Roderick Thomas, and one sister Ann Blair. Donald attended LeBret High School in Saskatchewan, East of Fort Qu’Appelle. He was working as a truck driver for E. Hildebrand in Fort Qu'Appelle when he enlisted in 1940. After enlisting in Regina, Saskatchewan, he transferred to Camp Dundurn in Saskatoon July 5, 1940 and departed for Nova Scotia September 29, 1940. He served at the Debert Military Camp, Nova Scotia from October 3, 1940 until he went overseas on August 22, 1941. Rifleman Donald Thomas was married on April 24, 1941 in Truro, NS. Their son Donald Aubrey Thomas was born July 26, 1941. He served in Canada between June 14, 1940 and August 24, 1941, embarking in Halifax, Nova Scotia and arriving in Gourock, Scotland in the United Kingdom on September 1, 1941. He embarked June 1, 1944 aboard ship on June 1, 1944 in preparation for the Normandy landings. Rifleman Donald Thomas was killed in action on D-Day during the invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944. The Regina Rifles touched down on the beach just after 08:00 am. He died the day after his 24th birthday. The Thomas Falls in Saskatchewan are name after him (56.55°N / 106.2667°W), on the Haultain River (Saskatchewan Geo-Memorial).

Personnel of the Regina Rifle Regiment aboard a landing craft en route to NAN GREEN Beach, Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944