David William West was born in New Cross, London and his birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1894 in the Greenwich Registration District, London. He was the second of the three children of Edwin West (1859-1922) and Esther West née Godley (1857-1936).
He was shown as aged 6 years on the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901. He was living in four rooms within 31 Chubworthy Street, Deptford, London, with his parents and his sister Laura Elizabeth West (1887-1951). His father was listed as a police constable.
In December 1910 he was appointed as an assistant postman in the London Postal Service.
He was described as aged 17 years and a G.P.O. telegraph messenger on the census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911. He was living in a five roomed property at 75 Pagnell Street, New Cross, Deptford, with his parents and his two sisters: Laura Elizabeth West - a pickle factory worker and May Victoria West (1897-1941) - a scholar. His father listed himself as police pensioner.
In July 1914 he was promoted to the grade of postman in the London West area.
In late 1914 he joined the 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 2516 and entered France on 18 March 1915. On 25th March 1918 he was transferred to 1st/17th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Poplar & Stepney Rifles), and his service number by then had changed to 370711. He was wounded and died, aged 24 years, on 11 September 1918 at the 9th USA General Hospital, Rouen, France and his body is , at the St Sever Cemetery Extension, 76140 Le Grand-Quevilly, France.
On 10 January 1919 his father was sent his army effects totalling £10-17s-10d and on 9 December 1919 an £18-10s-0d war gratuity was sent to his father. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'WEST, D. W.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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