Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lieutenant Colonel

Army Number : 68626

Unit : 2/5th Bn

Biography :

Educated at Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire (where he was Sergeant in the OTC, in the Shooting VIII and a House Monitor), Donald Price was commissioned into The Devonshire Regiment on 1.8.1936, and from the Supplementary Reserve of Officers was made a 2Lt in The Dorsetshire Regiment on 28.8.1938. He served in 8th Bn The Dorsetshire Regiment which later became 101th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Promoted Lt on 1.1.1941, and Acting Major on 15.9.1942, becoming a Battery Commander. As part of 1st Army, he took part in the fighting in Tunisia and Italy, and as part of 46th Division underwent training in Palestine and Egypt Mar-Jul 1944. Brigade Major of HQ 139th Infantry Brigade in the Middle East and Italy Feb 1944-Mar 1945, fighting in the Gothic Line battles; for service in that appointment he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (USA) (L.G. 16.1.1948). Became 2IC of 2/5th Bn The Leicestershire Regiment in Greece in March 1945. Commanded the Bn in Greece, Italy and Austria from 22.4.1945 to 22.9.1945, which ended when he fractured his spine and skull in a crashing fall while riding at the 46th Division's Point-to-Point horse races. After six months in hospital at Graz in Austria being nursed by among others his wife Mary who was a VAD nurse, the couple prevailed upon the military authorities to fly him back to England for treatment at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he died a few days after arrival, on 22.4.1946, aged 28. He is buried in St. Mary the Virgin churchyard, Send, Surrey.

P J de A Moore MC in his book 'No need to worry', Pages 235-7, describes the circumstances of the race-riding catastrophe, "We had only one tragedy during the occupation of Austria...46 Division had taken part in the surrender of the White Russian Division..[and] had acquired a large number of horses from the White Russian cavalry, which were distributed among the Battalions. Donald Price chose a fast grey which he named 'Tiger' [a beautiful grey stallion gifted to him by a Cossack Colonel who was being repatriated to Russia]. On 22 September 1945 there was a Divisional Point-to-Point. Donald's horse was so unruly that he had to start behind the other horses, but by the first fence he was leading and moving at tremendous speed. The horse hit the fence and fell, breaking Donald's back and fracturing his skull."

The ‘Bromsgrovian’ paid tribute:
"‘When Price was last on leave in England, in the summer of 1945, he came with his wife to spend an afternoon at his old School. Tall and fit, he looked a splendid officer. We know, too, that he had distinguished himself in the War and has been awarded the American Bronze Star. A fine career as a regular soldier seemed assured. He talked with much enjoyment and enthusiasm of his doings as a rider in the Divisional Steeplechases. No one dreamed that within a few weeks of his return to duty he would be thrown from his horse in a race to break his spine. For many months he fought a long, losing battle for his life and bore much pain and many setbacks with a courage and serenity of spirit which revealed the real quality of the man. In a last desperate effort to save his life, he was brought by air to a hospital in England. But nothing availed to save him. He died, as he wished, in his own country. We pay this affectionate tribute to Donald’s memory and to his character. He was a loyal friend, a truly brave man and a gallant officer."

This page was last edited on 27.3.2019.

Date of Birth : 21.5.1917

Place of Birth : Weymouth, Dorset

Date of Death : 22.4.1946

Place of Death : Stoke Mandeville, Bucks

Period of Service : 1936-46

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : England, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Palestine, Egypt, Greece, Austria