Jack Donovan enlisted into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and volunteered for The Parachute Regiment. Lance Corporal Donovan attended advanced parachute training course number 2 between 14 and 19 January 1942.He was posted to the MMG Platoon, 2nd Parachute Battalion and saw action in Arnhem. Whilst in Europe he was taken prisoner and sent to Camp 4B.

Jack Donovan died aged 98 on 30 December 2014.