Donald Neal was born on November 27, 1918, the son of Guy Elmer Neal (born in Lambton, Ontario) and Annie Duncan (nee Alexander, born in Lambton, Ontario) Neal, of R.R. 1, Courtright, Ontario. Donald had three brothers–two of whom were William Alexander (born 1915) and Miltin Stockdale (born 1916)—and two sisters. Donald was a former student of Sarnia Collegiate. Enlisting in the army in March of 1943, Donald recorded his occupation as a labourer and his marital status as single. He joined the Canadian Army, becoming a member of the Perth Regiment, R.C.I.C., with the rank of Private. When he arrived overseas in January 1944, Donald cabled his parents in Courtright that he had made it safely.
On September 27, 1944, Donald Neal would lose his life while fighting in Italy, during the Italian Campaign. In early October of 1944, Guy and Annie Neal in Courtright would receive a telegram from the director of records in Ottawa informing them that their son, Private Donald Neal, was killed in action with the Perth Regiment in Italy on September 27. Donald Neal would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Italy). Twenty-five year old Donald Neal is buried in Cesena War Cemetery, Italy, Grave VII,F,8. Donald Neal’s name is also inscribed on a Memorial plaque on the interior wall of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in the Village of Courtright.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, G, L, N, 2C, 2D