Finlay, Donald Osborne “Don”, born 27-05-1909 in Christchurch, Christchurch Borough, Dorset, 
United Kingdom. Don” Finlay was best known to the public as an athlete. An all round athlete competing in long jump, shot put, and javelin, but best remembered as a hurdler. 
He competed in the Olympic Games in 1932, 1936 and 1948, when he was Captain of the British Team and chosen to take the “Olympic Oath”. In 1934 he won gold at the Empire Games and competing in 1950 (aged 41) he still finished 5th.
Donald was a useful shot putter and could undoubtedly have been the leading British decathlete of his era. Findlay competed for the Royal Air Force, 
the Milocarian Athletic Club (AC), and the Surrey AC, Kingston-upon-Thames.
Finlay joined the RAF in April 1935, and was posted to No 17 Squadron, 
nickname “The Golden Arrows” under command of Squadron Leader Herbert Seton Broughall 
a high-ranking Canadian military officer who served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. Broughall passed away 23-07-1961 at age 61 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Later in 1936 to No. 54 Squadron RAF 
under command of Squadron Leader Cecil Arthur Bouchier, 
who passed away on 15-06-1979 (aged 83) in Worthing Hospital, Worthing, West Sussex, before attending the RAF School of Aeronautical Engineering at Henlow.
In World War II “Don” was posted to fly Spitfires as commanding officer of his old 54 Squadron– he initially flew Spitfires during the Battle of Britain before being wounded 
and later commanding No. 41 Squadron. 
He was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in August 1941, becoming 11 Group Engineering Officer. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross 
in June 1942. His victory tally flying fighters was 4 and 2 shared destroyed, 3 and 1 shared damaged. He then commanded No. 608 Squadron, 
flying Lockheed Hudsons 
in the Middle East in 1943. In 1945 he commanded 906 Wing in Burma, being awarded an Air Force Cross. 
He became a Group captain in 1950. Findlay was stationed for much of his time at RAF Acklington, whose chapel contains a dedicated stained glass window to honor him.
As a Group Captain he was posted to No1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton, 
as Senior Technical Training Officer. He came back after the war and at the age of 40 in 1949 ran 14.4 120 meter hurdle, only a tenth slower than when he was a young man and he had had hard war service. He regularly took part in the station sports meeting and even at the age of 43 won every event he entered. He was also the first ever Group Captain to win an RAF Athletics title.
Death and burial ground of Finlay, Donald Osborne “Don”.
in the middle.
Don was severely injured and paralyzed in a motor vehicle accident in 1966, which led to his death/suicide on 19-04-1970, aged sixty. His date of death is often cited as April 18, 1970, contrary to the date on his grave monument.
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