Private Edward ‘Ted’ Donald was born in Felling (then in County Durham but now in Tyne & Wear) in December 1917. He was the youngest of 8 children (5 girls, 3 boys). 

Edward enlisted with The 5th Berkshire Regiment before volunteering for service with the airborne forces. After learning to parachute jump on Course 4 at RAF Ringway in late December 1941, he was posted to 2 Para.

Edward and was killed in action on 8 March 1943, whilst defending ‘Cork Hill’, in Tunisia, during the 1st phase of the Battle of Tamera. 

Paul Durham recalls this about the service of his great uncle:

"I remember talking to one of my great aunts about him in the early 1980s. She had a photo of him on her TV, taken in his uniform. She told me he had died as a result of being strafed by Messerschmidt aircraft. What research I have been able to conduct in recent years seems to render this a distinct possibility."