18521 Private
2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division
Age:
Date of Death: 24.9.17
Buried: Bleuet Farm Cemetery I.E.44
Family history: Husband of Janet, 7 Fankerton, Denny. They had four children. Prior to enlisting he was employed by the Carrongrove Paper Co. Ltd, Denny.
The action leading to his death
The battalion were in billets at Cambridge Camp 200 yards west of Bleuet Farm.
(Linesman Map)
In a letter to his wife Lieutenant W B St Leger, David’s Platoon Commander, wrote that a shell burst in the middle of the Platoon killing ten men instantly and wounding several others. He went on: ‘Your husband had always done very well. He was a brave man, and a good soldier, and will be very much missed. There was a funeral service at 4 the same afternoon, and he was buried with ten of his comrades, one of the wounded having died of wounds.’
The War Diary recorded:
Graves Registration Report (CWGC site) showing the ten Coldstream Guards casualties buried together on 24 September 1917.
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal
