Donald Fraser Shearn

Donald Fraser Shearn was born on May 7th, 1920, in Ottawa, ON. He was the son of Charles Clyde Shearn and Sarah Helen Shearn, who married in England. Charles was a part of the royal canadian military and Sarah was a housewife. Donald had 2 brothers, Douglas, the oldest was born in 1918 and Allan, the younger brother, was born in 1922. The Shearn family lived at 165 Fifth Avenue. Following their parents’ separation, Sarah H Shearn took care of Donald and his brothers. There are no records to clearly indicate this but we can guess that the boys went to Mutchmor School because of the proximity to their house. What we do know is that Donald went to Glebe Collegiate for 4 years and graduated in 1937, then 4 years later decided to enlist in the army. 

Donald was a young man of average height and weight. His medical records at the time of enlistment show that he was 5 foot 10 inches, was 185 pounds and seemed to be quite healthy. We also know that he had brown eyes and brown hair. There is no evidence that he was a part of any sports or other clubs, there was no fiance or wife listed at the time of enlistment and we have no evidence of any love interests. Though we do not know for certain what his personality was like, it was likely Donald was a shy and introverted person who was committed to his family, especially his mother. 

Shearn enlisted for service in Ottawa the 10th of February 1941. Before enlisting he was employed in civil services as a clerk. Though it is never specifically stated why Shearn chose to enroll, it could be assumed that it was due to his father’s involvement in the military. When he first enlisted, Shearn was posted to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion unit. After leaving Canada however and arriving in the United Kingdom he began taking clerks courses at the Princeton St School of languages. With these courses completed he would later be assigned to the R.C.A.P.C unit in January of 1942. In May of the same year he was admitted to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and had been known to have severe colds ever since September of 1941. He would be swiftly discharged and in June 1942 was made Acting Corporal and would become a proper Corporal in September of that year. He continued to spend time in and out of various Infirmaries and Hospitals in which he would be in terrible condition and suffered weight loss. The doctors could not determine the exact cause of his problems though they were able to identify a tuberculosis lesion in the 1st left interspace of his lungs. In March of 1943 they would come to the conclusion that he was suffering from severe bronchitis and pneumonia and would have to be sent home to his family in Ottawa. 

After his service in 1943, he returned to Ottawa, due to various medical reasons. He was admitted to the Royal Ottawa Sanatorium and unfortunately, ex-corporal Shearn died later that same year, on September 17th.  His cause of death was related to his Pericarditis and military Tuberculosis. For his hardships and services in the war Donald F Shearn was awarded a war medal for the years 1939-1945. Today, he is buried in the Beechwood cemetery Ottawa Ontario, Grave 1, Lot 181, Section 30, along with other soldiers who nobally fought at the time, including his very own younger brother Sergeant. Alan Shearn.

Memorial – St Matthew's Anglican Church Ottawa

Primary Source Documents :https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2687376?Donald%20Fraser%20Shearn 

Works Cited

Government of Canada national archives, editor. SHEARN, DONALD FRASER. 01 11 2023. National archive, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=kia&IdNumber=32259.

Pipe, Kevan. “Remembering Corporal Donald Shearn.” Issuu, https://issuu.com/glebereport/docs/glebe_report_september_15_2023_web/s/33064919. Accessed 5 November 2023.

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.