The Battalion arrived in France in May 1915 and were part of the 152nd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. On the 12/06/1916 they transferred as Divisional Pioneer Battalion to the 5th Division. In November 1917 they moved to Italy. A major change now occurred, with 5th Division being one of five British formations selected to be moved to Italy. This was a strategic and political move agreed by the British Government at the request of the Allied Supreme War Council, as an effort to stiffen Italian resistance to enemy attack after a recent disaster at Caporetto. Many diaries at this time, by men who had witnessed slaughter in the floods of Passchendaele, talk of the move and Italy as being "like another world". Much work was done preparing to move into the mountainous area of the Brenta, but eventually the Division was instead moved to the line along the River Piave, taking up positions in late January 1918. The Division was recalled hurriedly to France, once the enemy had made an attack in overwhelming strength on the 21st March. They returned to France in April 1918. David was released to do Munitions Work with Lambertons from the 29/12/1915 until the 13/06/1916. He was wounded (gunshot) on the 29/07/1916 and returned to the UK on the 01/08/1916 until the 22/12/1916 when he returned to Etaples. He joined his Battalion on the 01/01/1917. David and the Battalion fought in the Battle of Hazebrouck, 12th - 15th April 1918. The 5th Division fought in the defence of Nieppe Forest. This was part of the Battles of the Lys, 9th April - 29th April 1918 : The third German offensive Operation Georgette takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British and French reserves are somehow found and deployed. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension was opened in August 1916, and used by Commonwealth and Portuguese hospitals until April 1918. It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields immediately north and east of Merville and from the following Cemetery:- Caudescure Halte Cemtery, Morbecque, which was close to the road and the light railway from Merville to Hazebrouck, and just within the Bois-Moyen. It was made by fighting units, and it contained the graves of 38 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the period April - August, 1918. A big thanks to Mick McCann and the team at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here for David's Grave photo. David is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical School Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for David's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report x 3, his Reburial Form, Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, David's Service Records x 12, his Pension Records x 2, his brother John's mention in the Reverend Samuel Lindsay's 1919 book, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badge and another photo of David's grave. David's grave inscription reads "KNOWN TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY" and from his father William "LOOK EVER TO JESUS HE WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH".
