Name: Norman Clayton Skinner Rank: Private Service No.: F/32287 Service: Cape Breton Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Date of Birth: February 4, 1918 Place of Birth: Guysborough County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: September 11, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Sydney, Cape Breton, NS Age at Enlistment: 24 Address at Enlistment: 44 Dodd St, Sydney, Cape Breton, NS Height: 5 feet, 10 inches Complexion: Black Marital Status: Single Occupation: Truck Driver Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: John G. Skinner, Guysborough, NS (Father) Date of Death: August 30, 1944 Age: 26 Cemetery: Montecchio War Cemetery, Montelabbate, Pesaro, Italy Grave: Section I, Row D, Grave 7 Commemorated on Page 444 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 25 Norman Clayton Skinner was the son of John Gordon Skinner (1886-1970) and Laura Mae (Gero) Skinner (1885-1919). His parents were married January 10, 1906, in Guysborough, NS. Norman had two brothers, Wilfred Leslie Skinner (1914-1981) and Earl Rayfield Skinner (1915-1925); and sisters, Ida Jane Skinner (1903-1981) and Hattie Eugena Skinner (1916-2007). After Laura’s death in 1919, Norman’s father was remarried to Lilly Ann Dorrington in 1922. From this marriage, Norman had half-brothers and half-sisters. When assessed at enlistment in September of 1942, it was noted that Norman’s left index finger had been amputated at the first phalangeal joint, but that there was no impairment of grip or hand movements. He completed his Basic Training at No. 61 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC 61) in New Glasgow, NS, from October 17 to December 15, 1942 (having been admitted briefly to the New Glasgow Military Hospital from Nov 7-10, 1942). He then completed advance training at No. A14 Advanced Training Centre at Aldershot, NS from December 16, 1942, to March 27, 1943, when he transferred overseas. Arriving in the UK April 4, 1943, he was admitted to the British Isolation Hospital April 24 until May 16, 1943. In summary, Private Skinner served in Canada from September 11, 1942, to March 28, 1943, in the UK from March 29, 1943, to October 23, 1943, and in Italy from October 24, 1943, until his death. Tragically, Private Norman Clayton Skinner was killed in action August 30, 1944. Norman and the Cape Breton Highlanders were engaged in battle advancing on Hill 120 near Montecchio on the Adriatic Front August 30th. In a newspaper article from September 28, 1944, Private Skinner’s fate during the battle of Hill 120 is revealed, “Snipers lurked around the hill to harass and kill the attackers. One kept coming close, too close, until Private Norman Skinner, Antigonish and Sydney, N.S., spotted him. He was at the top of a small slope and his commander was at the bottom. Skinner stuck his rifle between his legs and rolled down, got up and pointed, and fell dead from the sniper’s bullet.” Among his personal effects were a bible, a leather-bound notebook with snapshots and photos, and a paper knife souvenir from Rome. Norman was interred at the Montecchio War Cemetery in Pesaro, Italy.

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave