Donald McClure was born on March 23, 1921, the son of William Alexander McClure (born in Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario) and Edna Isabella (nee Bissell) McClure, of 249 Cromwell Street, Sarnia. For Donald’s mother Edna, this was her second marriage. She had married Victor Ivinson in 1914, but he died in February 1916. They had one son together, Edward Leland Ivinson, born in February of 1916. Later in 1916, Edna married again, this time to William Alexander McClure, and the family lived in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. In August of 1921, William Alexander McClure, a local grocer, died at Sarnia General Hospital. For Donald, he lost his father when he was only four months old.
Donald had one sister, Alma, and three brothers: John William Alexander ‘Jack’; James Kenneth (see below); and Edward Ivenson. At the time of Donald’s death, Jack was living in Sarnia; Edward was in Detroit enlisted in the U.S. Navy; and James was in the Canadian Army stationed on the east coast. Donald McClure was educated at Sarnia public schools and Sarnia Collegiate and attended Central United Church. During his high school days he was a member of the rifle team. Upon graduating from a technical course in machine shop, he was first employed at Goodson’s and then was employed at Holmes Foundry prior to enlisting. One year before enlisting, Donald McClure married Ethel Marie McClure, and they lived at 249 Cameron Street, Sarnia. He listed his occupation as a core-maker.
Donald enlisted in the Canadian Army in June of 1942, and after receiving his training in London, Windsor, Kitchener and Camp Borden, he went overseas in December of 1942. His unit first trained in England, was then transferred to Scotland, and finally left for Sicily in June 1943. Don wrote home giving a very interesting story of this trip, describing Gibraltar and Algiers, where he visited for a short time. Trooper Donald McClure was a member of the 12th Canadian Tank Corps of the Three Rivers Regiment R.C.A.C., which took part in the invasion of Sicily. There were five in Don’s crew and he was the co-driver of the tank. On July 30, 1943, as a member of an anti-tank corps with the Canadian Army during the Battle of Sicily, he would lose his life after his tank was hit. The other driver of the tank was killed instantly, two were wounded and one member escaped injury. Donald McClure was the first Sarnia fatality in the Sicilian campaign.
In mid-August of 1943, wife Ethel Marie McClure of Sarnia would receive a telegram informing her of her husband Donald’s death in Sicily. The information from the Director of Records said that, Trooper McClure had been officially reported died of wounds on a date not yet available. It added that further word would be forwarded when received. Donald McClure would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, died of wounds received in action, in the field (Sicily). Twenty-two year old Donald McClure is buried at Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily, Grave D,G,486. On Donald McClure’s headstone are inscribed the words, Until the day break and the shadows flee away. For Donald’s widow mother Edna in Sarnia, a little over one year later, she would lose a second son, James, who was killed in Italy.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, S, 2C, 2D