David Hercules Green

Trooper David H Green Worksop Guardian 4 January 1918 Information was received from the war office last week of the death of Trooper David Hercules Green, S. R. Y, who was killed in action in Palestine on November 28th. The deceased soldier was the eldest son of Lieut. G W and Mrs Green, 42 Ryton Street, Worksop, and would have completed his 22 year had he lived to December 21st. Trooper Green enlisted on November 4th 1912, then only in his 17th year and therefore was a time expired man and entitled to a month’s furlough shortly before he was killed. No particulars have yet been received as to how he met his death. He had seen considerable service in the Dardanelles, Egypt, Salonika and latterly in Palestine. In July last year, when on his way from Salonika to Egypt, the ship was torpedoed and he lost all his belongings. After landing, he had to track across a portion of the Great Desert, a journey which took them nineteen days. Trooper Green who was a tall, smart young man, spent his 19th birthday at home, and had not been on leave since then. He was, previous to enlistment, employed by Messrs Smith Bros. Ltd. Albion Mills. Of a quiet nature, he was much esteemed by his associates in the town and much sympathy is expressed with Lieit. Green and his family in, their loss. Trooper David .H. Green Worksop Guardian 8 February 1918 This week Lieu. And Mrs. Green, 42, Ryton Street Worksop. Have received some further letters with reference to their son, Trooper David H. Green, S.R.Y. who was killed in action in Palestine on November 28th. The deceased was their eldest son, and would have completed his 22nd year had he lived until December 21st last. Writing to his parents Brigadier Lang Writes : “Dear Sir, the D.O. will have informed you of the death of your son. His loss to the squadron is a severe one to you, I know, is reputable he was a fine lad, straight and courageous. And it seems hard that fate should select such a fine example of an English man to pay the severest penalty. He was killed in a gallant cause and but for him and the Brigade to which he belonged things would have gone hard with another Brigade we were supporting, he was buried on the heights some few miles S.W. of Jerusalem. Death in this case being immediate, as he was shot through the head I shall always picture him as I saw him the day before. He was wearing an Australian hat and was standing watching the evening in the distance. He was at an advanced point that day, and when I rode up to him he was taking stock of the enemy as to their strength etc. He was always cool and very resourceful and the confidence he gave me was extraordinary. Please except my sincerest sympathy. A comrade Corpl. A Pressley. Writes:- “Dear Mrs. Green, It is with heartfelt sympathy that I write these few lines, but all the boys in the troop wished me to write to you, It is about David, your son, and also our best friend, a lad in a thousand. We were camped one night, and had to be in position on the following night, but we arrived early in the morning. We had not been there long before we were wanted to help our comrades on their left where the Turks were aiming to get round us. We just arrived in time to save the situation and a dozen brave lads lives, and it was while doing this that David received his fatal wound. He was close to me, and our officer said to me “There’s poor David hit, I went to him, but by the time I got there he was quite dead. He was a good lad, and will be very much missed by the entire troop, who is all about Worksop lads. The officer got all his belongings, but later in the day he was compelled to go into hospital, through injury to his knee, so I suppose he will forward them on. All the lads send their deepest sympathy, which I hope will help you to bear your burden lighter. Hoping you will accept our heartfelt sympathy in your great loss”.

CWG additional information:- Son of George William and Kate Green of Worksop Nottinghamshire. Buried in the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel and Palestine. Research by Colin Dannatt