Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Address at the time of enlistment was 22 Lawiforth Street, Sydney, NSW

Son of David and Margaret (Mag) Wren of 12 Florida Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. In 1953 his Victory Medal ws found by a member of the British Legion in Liverpool, England and returned to AIF Base Records in Canberra

He was 25. He is one of six Australian casualties of the Great War honoured on the Bootle War Memorial in Lancashire, England.

Births Dec 1890   Wren David W. Derby 8b 379

David Wren was born at Bootle [St.Mary�s parish,] on the 4th September 1890 and baptised at St.Peter's C.of E. Church, Liverpool on the 23rd September.
 
He was the son of David Wren and Margaret (nee Fyfe) who were both born at Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland.
 
They were married there in 1890 and their three eldest children were also born there. By 1888 they had relocated to Liverpool.
 
1881 Census � Cochran Street, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire - Parents David and Margaret Wren with daughter Isabella aged 6 months.
 
1891 Census � 52 Stafford Street, Bootle - Parents David and Maggie Wren with children Bella, Agnes, Matthew, Maggie and David
 
1901 Census - 52 Stafford Street, Bootle - Parents Davie and Margaret (as Wrenn) with children Bella, Maggie, Davie, Janet, John, William and James
 
1911 Census - 12 Florida Street, Bootle - Mother Margaret with children Janet, John, William and James - Margaret had been married 31 years with 10 children born and 7 still alive.
 
This was still the family home after the war.
 
David  enlisted on the 18th September 1914 at Melbourne. Australia He was 23 years and 8 months old.
 
He was working as a sailor and his religion was Church of England. He was 5 ft 8� inches tall, weighed 10st 10lbs with a 37 inch chest, a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair.
 
His records include a letter (will) stating that all his belongings are to go to his mother Maggie of 12 Florida Street, Bootle whom he had already given as his next of kin. She died

at Crosby in April 1945.
 
 
 
A report on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 18th June 1915.
 
ANOTHER BOOTLE MAN KILLED IN ACTION.
Pte. David Wren, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Wren, 12, Florida-street, Bootle, was killed in action on the 27th April. Though only 24 years of age, he had a wide and varied experience. He was educated at St.Mary's, and shortly after leaving school took a fancy to the sea, and sailed with his father. Later, he joined the Naval Reserve, and at the completion of his five years' service, sailed under the Cunard Company. Some three years ago he went to Australia, and when war broke out volunteered for service in the Imperial Force. After five months' training in Australia, he proceeded to Egypt, where he remained until April 11th, when he was ordered to the front. Going into action on the 27th, he had not been on the field of battle more than a few hours when he met his death.
Bootle Times 18th June 1915
 
His photograph was published in a commemorative booklet issued when the first part of the Bootle Roll of Honour was unveiled in 1916.
 
David Wren senior was killed whilst serving aboard the S.S.Hesperian when she was torpedoed on the 4th September 1915. He was one of thirty-two people who were killed when a lifeboat upset whilst being lowered into the water. The ship eventually sank two days later.
 
David's brother, John Wren, was killed in France on the 5th October 1918.

The brothers are honoured on the war memorial in St Matthew’s Church, Bootle.

David’s brother John was a Serjeant with 1st/10th Bn.The King's (Liverpool Regiment). He was 22 when killed in action in France on 5th October 1918. His mother had then not only lost two sons to the war, her husband, David Wren senior was killed whilst serving aboard the S.S.Hesperian when she was torpedoed on the 4th September 1915. He was one of thirty-two people who were killed when a lifeboat upset whilst being lowered into the water. The ship eventually sank two days later.