David was born on the 4th April 1936 in Horsforth, Leeds.

He worked and lived in Horsforth most of his life. Called up for National Service in August 1954, David enlisted at Imphal barracks in York and after basic training on December 7th 1954 went via London to Southampton, where he set sail for Malaya arriving at Singapore. From Singapore David travelled to Kluang, where he was tranferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment.

After his tour of duty in Malaya, David returned back to the UK arriving in Liverpool, January 1956. After this he served in Germany before being demobbed. David met his wife at a local dance hall, she is the sister of one of the lads he joined up with.