VC honour for pupil
THE storm clouds of war were gathering over Europe as ice cream maker’s son De Dennis Donnini studied his lessons at Co Corby Hall – the forerunner to St Aidan’s – i in the 1930s.
W Within just a few years, the 4ft 10ins lad would be posthumously awarded the Vic Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery – the youngest recipient of the prestigious aw award in Britain.
“Corby Hall was a private grammar sch school when Dennis was a pupil,” said Mi Mick. “He was described as being jolly an and full of life.
“At school he loved sport – he pa particularly liked football, swimming and horse riding. He wanted to be a jockey – but was discouraged by his father.”
Dennis, one of seven children, was born to Italian confectioner Alfredo Donnini and his Stanley- born wife Catherine, on November 17, 1925, in Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery.
After war broke out, Dennis left Corby Hall and found work at Birtley Chemicals Factory – in which his father had shares. Once he turned 18, however, it was off to war.
“Even though one of his brothers, Louis, had been killed, and another – Alfredo Jr – was in a German prisoner- of- war camp, Dennis still thought war was glamorous,” said Mick.
“He corresponded with his brother Alfredo in prison camp, but Alfredo’s experiences didn’t appear to put Dennis off the idea of being a soldier. Naturally, his parents weren’t happy.”
Dennis joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1944 and earned his VC on January 18, 1945, after rescuing a fallen comrade under heavy fire – despite being shot in the head.
The 19- year- old was wounded a second time while pursing his German attackers, but continued firing until the grenade he was carrying was hit by a bullet and exploded.
The blast left the young Fusilier dead, but his gallantry enabled the remaining men of his platoon to overcome “twice their own number of the enemy.”
“Alfredo Sr had been removed from Easington to an internment camp at Harperley by this time, because he was Italian- born – despite the objections of local villagers,” said Mick.
“When Dennis’ parents were invited to Buckingham Palace to receive his VC, it is said that the King had to give personal permission to allow Alfredo through the doors.”