David Montgomery was born in North Gower, Carleton, Ontario, on August 1, 1893, the youngest child of James Montgomery and Harriet Irene (nee Lee) Montgomery, of North Gower Twp, Carleton, Ontario. His many siblings included John Simpson (born 1878); James Howard (born 1880); Laura Eva (born 1881); Ida May (born 1883); Violet Mabel (born 1884); William Bower (born 1888); and Robert Henry (born 1889). When he was only two years old, David would lose his father, James, who died in October 1895. Eleven years later, thirteen years old David would also lose his mother Harriet, who passed away in March 1907.
David was living in Avonlea, Saskatchewan when he enlisted February 9, 1916 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with the 128th Battalion. He recorded his next of kin as James H. Montgomery, his brother, in Chaplin, Saskatchewan. Documents indicate David’s occupation was a hardware salesman and that he was single. He would become a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Alberta Regiment, 49th Battalion, with the rank of Private. On April 26, 1917, David Montgomery would lose his life, the result of wounds received while fighting during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, France. David Montgomery would later be officially listed as, Prev rep’td ‘Dangerously Ill’, now ‘Died of Wounds’. (Gunshot wound fracture base skull) at No. 24 General Hospital, Etaples. Twenty-three year old David Montgomery is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave XVIII.A.3.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G