David enlisted into the R.A.M.C., Territorial Force on 2nd June 1915, being embodied into the 3/2nd Lowland Field Ambulance the same day. He was 19 years and 6 months old; was a chemist by trade; and was living in Glasgow at the time. He was sent to Gallipoli as a reinforcement on 5th September 1915, joining the 1/2nd Lowland Field Ambulance on the 19th. On 2nd November 1917 he received a shell wound to his chest and was evacuated to 74 Casualty Clearing Station. Being described as dangerously ill he was evacuated again to No 43 Stationary Hospital, where he died from his wounds after internal haemorrhaging.