1916 - 18 November - Original framed Medal group and memorial plaque named to 145189 Private (Pigeoneer) Donald Herman Prunner - 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF Died of Wounds on 18 November 1916.

Archive

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Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

1916 - 18 November - Original framed Medal group and memorial plaque named to 145189 Private (Pigeoneer) Donald Herman Prunner - 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF Died of Wounds on 18 November 1916.

Scope and Content

Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection *** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION *** 1916 - 18 November - Original framed Medal group and memorial plaque named to 145189 Private (Pigeoneer) Donald Herman Prunner - 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF Died of Wounds on 18 November 1916. ABOUT THIS CGG SOLDIER PRUNNER, DONALD HERMAN (1896–1916) — Private 145189, 77th Battalion / 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF — Died of Wounds Morrisburg, Ontario Private Donald Herman Prunner was born at Morrisburg, Ontario, on 24 April 1896. He was unmarried, Anglican and employed as a locomotive fitter. His attestation paper records previous service with the St. Lawrence Canal Patrol and is annotated “59th S. & G. Regt.”—the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment. Prunner enlisted at Morrisburg on 1 September 1915 with the 77th Overseas Battalion, CEF. He embarked from Halifax on 19 June 1916 and transferred to the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) at Bramshott, England, on 4 July. He proceeded to France in August 1916. His records show that he was temporarily attached to the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade as a “pigeoneer”—working with military carrier pigeons—and later as a runner. On 18 November 1916, during the 87th Battalion’s attack toward Desire Trench in the closing action of the Battle of the Somme, Prunner received multiple wounds to his body. He died later that day at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station. His official classification was therefore Died of Wounds, rather than killed in action. He was twenty years old. Library and Archives Canada service file He was the son of Mrs. David Wood of Morrisburg and is buried in Contay British Cemetery, Somme, France, grave VII.A.5

Created By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Create Date

September 5, 2026

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

September 30, 2026