Name
David Bygrave
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/10/1917
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
39559
Gloucestershire Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SHEPHALL (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Stapleford,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Shephall,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Aston,
Not on the Stevenage Old Town memorials
Pre War
David was born on the 23rd February 1877, the son of James & Marianne Bygrave of Brickfield Cottages, Stevenage.
The family later lived at Ash Tree Bottom in Datchworth, where David worked as a Labourer on the local farms. In 1905 David married Elizabeth Pearman and the 1911 Census shows the couple, along with their children, Launcelot, Muriel and Ernest, had moved to Little Oxhey Lane Cottages, Oxhey, near Watford where he worked on a farm as a Cowman.
Wartime Service
David had initially joined the Hertfordshire Regiment as a Private with the Service Number 5296. He was later transferred to the Gloucestershire Regiment.
On the 2nd October 1917 the Battalion were in reserve positions at Meteren, having been recently involved in the Battle of Loos, and it was here that they were attacked with Gas shells on both the 2nd and 3rd of October. David died from the effects of Gas Poisoning a week later at Southampton Hospital. He is buried in the St. Mary churchyard, Shephall, Stevenage.
His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour in St. Mary’s church, Aston, but was omitted from the local war memorial.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
Paul Johnson
