Ferme Olivier Cemetery Grave III.C.2
‘B’ Battery, 122nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 38th Division
Age 20
KIA 2.4.17
Son of Colonel the Hon. Douglas Carnegie, he was the second son of the Earl of Northesk and he married Margaret Jean Johnstone Douglas in April 1896. They resided at Fair Oak, Rogate, Sussex. They had two sons and two daughters. David’s elder brother John also attended Gresham’s School and later served in the Hampshire Yeomanry during the First World War. Their father served in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment from 1888 to 1905 resigning his commission in 1905 with the rank of Major. During the First World War he served in the Labour Corps being promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel. He was elected Conservative MP for Winchester from 1916 to 1918.
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Early Life
David was born on 15 January 1897 and attended Gresham’s School from September 1910 to July 1915. He was a keen sportsman representing his house and the school at rugby, cricket, and hockey. He held the rank of Sergeant in the school Officer Training Corps. He was also a School Prefect. He had a place at King’s college, Cambridge however, he went to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich were he obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery in May 1916. He went to France on 1 June 1916 and joined the 122nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on the Somme.
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His Death
At the time of his death on 2 April 1917, David was in ‘B’ Battery mess dug out, located near Brielen, with his battery commanding officer Major Brinley Richard Lewis when a German shell penetrated the roof and exploded inside the dug out killing both men instantaneously. They were buried the next day side by side.
The War Diary recorded the incident.
Recorded in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914 to 1918 are the comments of a letter to his parents by Brigadier-General Thomson VC: ‘I would like you to know the very high opinion in which your son was held in this Divisional Artillery; he was a very rising young officer, and his death in action has cut short a most promising career. During the whole time he was in this division (38th) I have always received the most favourable reports about him, as an officer of exceptional value and ability.’
His Brigade Commanding Officer wrote: ‘He was a splendidly gallant fellow, who has done magnificent work always. He could always be absolutely depended upon, and his powers of observation and intuition were exceptional. His reports were always valuable. Everyone, both officers and men, were most awfully fond of him.’
Headstone
Their Hope Is Full Of Immortality
