Rugby Player Tyne Cot Memorial

Private David Westacott

15529 Private David Westacott, ‘D’ Company, 2/6th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, 183rd Infantry Brigade, 61st Division. Killed in action 28 August 1917, age 35. He was married to Clara and they lived with their four children at 47 Hewell Street, Grangetown, Cardiff. In the 1911 census he lists his employments as Dock Labourer. He played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan once scoring five tries in a match against Somerset. He was capped once for Wales v Ireland in 1906. He was described as ‘a man of enormous strength, very fast forward and a great runner.’ He enlisted on 15 November 1914 and went to France on 5 February 1915. He had a short leave in February 1916 and was wounded on 23 August 1916 and sent back to the UK. From November 1916 he spent eight months stationed in Sittingbourne and Maidstone before returning to the front line in 1917. On the 27 August 1917 the Battalion was in the support trenches behind Pond Farm, Wieltje, waiting in support and to assist the attack by the 2/4th Gloucesters if required. The enemy artillery was described in the War Diary as active. They relieved the 2/4th Gloucesters in the line on 28 August but no casualties were reported. His company commander wrote to his wife on 2 September: ‘I much regret to inform you of the death in action of your husband, Private Westacott, of my Company. He was killed by a shell in the support trenches on the 28th of last month. Death was instantaneous… He was buried in the proper manner the following day.’ His grave was subsequently lost and he is listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.