19042, Private, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Missing In Action on the 13th October 1915 aged 34.
David was born in May 1881, the son of John & Mary Payne of Little Wymondley, Hertfordshire. As was the case with many men from the town, David became a Domestic Gardner by trade. On the 23rd January 1904 he married Lizzie Bygrave and the couple lived at 44 Alleyns Road, Stevenage. By 1911 they had produced four children, Mary, Ernest. Lilly & Emily.
He was posted to France on the 4th October 1915 and was reported as missing just nine days later.
The Battalion were ordered to attack the German firing line just West of the Lens to La Bassee road, near Noeux-Les-Mines. The attack began at 2pm and was quickly met with heavy machine gun and rifle fire. The fighting lasted all afternoon and by nightfall the British troops had been driven back to their original positions. This dreadfully unsuccessful attack had cost the lives of 150 men, with absolutely no ground gained.
It was not until July 1916 that David was confirmed as killed. Private Papps had reported seeing David’s body close to the British wire along with that of Private Alfred Dorrington. Their bodies were not recovered from the battlefield.
David has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Loos Memorial, France. (Panel 60/64.)
Medal Entitlement: 1915 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal