Leading Aircraftman Reuben Alexander Donnelly
Survivor of WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Reuben Alexander Donnelly was born in Huntingdon, Quebec, on 25 May 1913. He attended Elgin School at Glen Elm and worked in farming, a milk factory, as a machinist and in ammunition production before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 8 August 1941. He trained and served in Canada as a motor mechanic and motor-transport tradesman, with postings including Toronto, Guelph, Jarvis, Trenton, St. Hubert, Halifax and Shelburne. He progressed from Aircraftman Second Class to Aircraftman First Class and Leading Aircraftman, and qualified through M.M.M.T. trade Groups C, B and A. During his service he married Marguerite St. Onge and they had two children, Caroline June and Donald Ruben. He was discharged at RCAF Station Shelburne on 15 January 1944 on compassionate grounds so he could return to operate the family farm because his father was again unable to work through illness. Known as “Buster,” he died in Cornwall, Ontario, on 16 October 1986.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
R127016
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
RCAF Station Shelburne
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Huntingdon, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
28 years 2 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
30 years 7 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
73 years 4 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Ammunition worker
Next of Kin:
Henry Andrew Donnelly, father, Glen Elm, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
25 Academy Street, Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 7.5 in / 171 cm
Weight:
171 lbs / 78 kg
Chest:
36.3 in / 92 cm
Expansion:
2.5 in / 6 cm
Marital Status:
Married
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Canada
Place of Discharge:
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
890 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
RCAF Station Shelburne |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 1 Y Depot |
|
|
|
| Evidence also contains cancelled/uncertain Gaspé/Gander posting entries. |
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 13 Service Flying Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman First Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 13 Service Flying Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Composite Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Jarvis station / Bombing & Gunnery School |
|
|
|
| Exact unit wording varies in evidence. |
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 4 Wireless School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 1 Manning Depot |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1913-05-25 — Born. — Huntingdon, Quebec
1919 to 1927 — Attended a general primary course. — Glen Elm, Quebec / Elgin School
1927 to 1936 — Worked on his father's farm. — Glen Elm, Quebec / family farm
1936 to 1938 — Worked as a farmer for George Paul. — Glen Elm, Quebec / George Paul farm
1938 to 1940 — Did general work in Wilfrid Faubert's milk factory. — Glen Elm, Quebec / Wilfrid Faubert milk factory
1940 to 1941-06 — Worked as a machinist for J. A. McCracken. — Quebec / J. A. McCracken
1941-06 to 1941-08 — Worked in ammunition production for Canadian Industries Ltd. — Valleyfield, Quebec / Canadian Industries Ltd.
1941-08-07 — Medically examined and trade-tested as a Motor Mechanic M.T.; assessed suitable for that trade. — Montreal, Quebec / RCAF Recruiting Centre
1941-08-08 — Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force Special Reserve for the duration and proceeded to his first depot. — Montreal, Quebec / No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto
1941-08-13 — Underwent his first dental examination after enlistment. — Toronto, Ontario / No. 1 Manning Depot
1941-08-21 to 1941-08-22 — Posted to wireless-school training and taken on strength. — Guelph, Ontario / No. 4 Wireless School
1941-09-22 — Struck off strength for a new posting. — Guelph, Ontario / No. 4 Wireless School
1941-09-28 to 1941-10-06 — Admitted as a measles contact; discharged satisfactory and returned to duty. — Jarvis, Ontario / Station Hospital
1941-11-01 to 1941-11-02 — Transferred to a training establishment. — Trenton, Ontario / Composite Training School
1941-11-03 to 1941-11-29 — Attended M.M.M.T. Course No. 14; assessed as a good driver with fair knowledge of mechanics. — Trenton, Ontario / Composite Training School
1941-11-29 — Promoted Aircraftman First Class and posted to a service flying training school. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1941-11-29 — Married Marguerite St. Onge during service. — Huntingdon, Quebec
1942-01-24 — Passed M.M.M.T. trade test, Group C, with 81 percent. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-03-23 to 1942-04-01 — Granted nine days' leave. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-04-03 — Conduct record documents theft of eight gallons of gasoline and one gallon of oil from the M.T. Section. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-04-10 — Awarded 28 days' detention for the 3 April offence. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-04-10 — Temporary duty recorded. — Malton, Ontario / Royal Canadian Air Force
1942-05-17 to 1942-05-31 — Granted 14 days' leave. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-06-12 — Proceeded on temporary duty. — Macleod, Alberta / Royal Canadian Air Force
1942-06-18 — Returned from temporary duty. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1942-06-19 — Daughter Caroline June Donnelly was born. — Ormstown, Quebec
1942-10-01 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman and qualified/remustered in M.M.M.T. Group B. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1943-01-30 — Temporary duty to an uncertain destination recorded as approximately 'Conn...'; returned the same date. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1943-05-06 — Struck off strength for transfer to a depot. — St. Hubert, Quebec / No. 13 S.F.T.S.
1943-05-13 — Taken on strength at the depot; another posting is also present elsewhere in the evidence. — Halifax, Nova Scotia / No. 1 Y Depot
1943-07-01 — Remustered to M.M.M.T. Group A. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-07-05 — Son Donald Ruben Donnelly was born. — Huntingdon, Quebec
1943-07-10 to 1943-07-17 — Granted seven days' annual leave. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-08-31 — Issued a travel warrant in connection with forthcoming leave. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-09-01 to 1943-10-01 — Granted 30 days' harvest/farm leave. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-11-17 — Recommended for compassionate discharge so he could operate the family farm because his father was again unable to work through illness. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-12-04 to 1943-12-05 — Transfer/posting entries place him at his final wartime station by December 1943. — Shelburne, Nova Scotia / RCAF Station Shelburne
1943-12-10 — Compassionate discharge under K.R. (Air) 195(8) authorized. — Royal Canadian Air Force
1943-12-24 to 1943-12-28 — Granted special leave with ration allowance. — Shelburne, Nova Scotia / RCAF Station Shelburne
1944-01-12 — Medical Board proceedings associated with the non-medical reason for release were completed. — Shelburne, Nova Scotia / RCAF Station Shelburne
1944-01-14 — Issued one-way second-class transportation home for discharge. — Shelburne, Nova Scotia / RCAF Station Shelburne
1944-01-15 — Discharged from the RCAF Special Reserve on compassionate grounds under K.R. (Air) 195(8); character Good and trade qualifications Satisfactory. — Shelburne, Nova Scotia / RCAF Station Shelburne
1944-10-21 — Rehabilitation assistance of $67.50 was processed after discharge. — Canada / Royal Canadian Air Force
1947-07-25 — War service gratuity statement calculated $202.50 for 27 qualifying periods. — Canada / Royal Canadian Air Force
1986-10-16 — Died aged 73. (Cornwall, Ontario)
Notes
He attended Elgin School at Glen Elm from 1919 to 1927, completing Grade 8, and then worked in agriculture. Worked on his father’s farm, for farmer George Paul, in Wilfrid Faubert’s milk factory, as a machinist for J. A. McCracken, and in ammunition work for Canadian Industries Ltd. at Valleyfield. He reported playing softball occasionally. He married Marguerite St. Onge during his service on 29 November 1941; the Record of Service explicitly notes that the marriage was without permission. Their daughter Caroline June was born at Ormstown in 1942 and their son Donald Ruben at Huntingdon in 1943. His conduct sheet records theft of 5 gallons of gasoline and 1 gallon of oil from the M.T. Section at No. 13 S.F.T.S., St. Hubert, on 8 April 1942; he received 28 days detention. At discharge his conduct was assessed Good, Air Force trade qualifications Satisfactory, and qualifications for civil employment 'Average - Mechanic.'
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Ruben Alexander "Buster" Donnelly BIRTH 1913 • Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada DEATH 16 OCT 1986 • Cornwall, Ontario
Marriage 19 Feb 1941 • Montreal, Québec, Canada Thelma Mabel Anderson (1916–1999)
Request confirmation number EA2026_0174254
Additional Service Notes
Served entirely in Canada with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 8 August 1941 to 15 January 1944. He enlisted for active service and declared himself willing to serve anywhere in Canada and beyond Canada. He trained and served as a motor mechanic, progressing from AC2 to AC1 and Leading Aircraftman, with postings including Gaspé, St. Hubert, Toronto, Halifax and Shelburne. During an acute bronchitis episode he was hospitalized at Jarvis beginning 28 September 1941, transferred to Gaspé on 4 October, and discharged from hospital on 6 October 1941. In January 1944 an examination found no disability meriting discharge and recommended discharge on non-medical grounds so that he could return to the farm. Discharged at RCAF Station Shelburne on 15 January 1944 under K.R. (Air) 195(8), on compassionate grounds, to return to operate the family farm because his father was again unable to do farm work through illness. His discharge certificate documents the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At enlistment his next of kin was his father Henry Andrew Donnelly of Glen Elm. He married Marguerite St. Onge in Montreal on 29 November 1941. Service records list daughter Caroline June Donnelly, born 10 June 1942 at Ormstown and baptized 11 July 1942 at St. Joseph's Church, Huntingdon, and son Donald Ruben Donnelly, born 5 July 1943 at Huntingdon. His 1986 obituary names wife Margaret (St. Onge) and children June (Mrs. Gene Stockbauer), Donald (Audrey), Ann (Mrs. Brian Salter), Richard (Fern), Pat (Marilyn), Ronald (Linda), Gerald (Lynn), Miles (Audrey), Peter (Line), and Lyndon. It states that he had 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-10-05 16:36:32
by: marc
