Donald Mansfield
April 1920 – 10th August 2017
Donald Victor Mansfield was born in the suburb of Stapleton, Bristol, in the spring of 1920. He came of age during a time of global instability and rising conflict, yet approached life with humility and purpose.
He began work in 1935 as an apprentice mechanical engineer at Strachan & Henshaw in Bristol. There, he developed practical skills that would later serve the Royal Navy well. With the outbreak of World War II, Donald joined the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of Petty Officer.
Don’s Royal Navy career started in the Caribbean, however later deployed on one of the most vital and dangerous Battle of the Atlantic, guarding the convoys of merchant shipping from attack by German U-boats. Later in the war, he trained as a Royal Navel diver — a highly skilled and hazardous role.
Though official records are limited, it is known that Donald took part in the D-Day Normandy Landings in June 1944 — one of the most critical military operations in history. He continued his service until the end of the war and was en route to the South Pacific when peacetime was finally restored.
After the war, Donald returned to a quieter life, never seeking accolades. He had no children of his own, but his family — including his niece Helen — held him in the highest regard. In his later years, he lived peacefully at Dunkirk Memorial House in Somerset, where he passed away in 2017 at the age of 97.
“While some of the details of Donald’s service may be lost to history, his legacy — of courage, dignity, and quiet devotion — remains with us always.”
Petty Officer Donald Mansfield’s life reminds us of the quiet heroes among us — those who served not for fame, but out of duty. This page stands in honour of him, and all who served.
