Donald Tyler was born in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead in Cheshire in October 1896, a twin son of Walter Grimley Tyler and his wife, Mary Hannah Tyler. His twin was Douglas Percy and there were two older brothers – Victor and Wilfred David. At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at 486, New Chester Road, Birkenhead. By 1921 the family had moved to 18, Chatham Road, Rock Ferry and Donald was listed as an engineer’s fitter at the Cammell Laird Shipyard but currently ‘out of work’.

Donald was on board HMS THETIS when it sank in Liverpool Bay on 1 June 1939. His date of death was recorded as 3 June 1939. He was buried in the THETIS mass grave at Holyhead.

Note: It was reported by Warren & Benson in their book ‘The Admiralty Regrets’ that Tyler was an employee of Vickers Armstrong Ltd at the Barrow in Furness Shipyard although, being a native of Birkenhead, it more likely correct that he worked for Cammell Laird.