DUFF, David Ernest
| Service Number: | 896 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, St Kilda, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, August 1892 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 2 August 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 7), Belgium, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lang Lang State School No 2899 Roll of Honor, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, St Kilda, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Driver, 896, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' |
|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 896, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Shropshire, Melbourne | |
| 2 Aug 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 896, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres |
Help us honour David Ernest Duff's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Seeking relatives of World War 1 Veteran
Pte David Ernest DUFF medals of Gallipoli & Western Front Veteran returned to family.
Our search for the descendants of Private David Duff - WWI (KIA) - has been successful thanks to several people.
David M found the medals in his father’s belongings however the family had no record or link to David Duff. How the medals came to be in his family’s care is a mystery.
David recently turn 100 and it was his wish that the medals be returned to the family. David asked his young cousin Casey - pictured - to see if she could locate David Duff’s descendants.
Casey created this page and with the help of friends circulated this post widely - one page was the 7 Transport Squadron page and incredibly within an hour we heard from Sue & Craig McConchie - distant relatives who were able to put Casey in touch with direct descendants.
The medals are now with the Great- Great Grandson of David Duff’s eldest brother John (Jack) Duff
Private David Duff - KIA 2 Aug 1917
2 Field Artillery Brigade
Ypres - Second Battle of Passchendaele
Thankyou to all that shared and helped in making David’s wish come true -
Lest We Forget
Medals are now with family in regional Victoria - further photographs to follow post COVID
Biography
"DUFF.–In loving memory of my darling son, David Ernest Duff, who was killed in action somewhere in France on 2nd August, 1917, after three years' active service in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France, aged 25 years.
Dead, did you say? Nay, only heaven sped;
Just safe in God's home port, he is not dead.
Lost, did you think? How can such lives be lost? Just gathered up; His jewels rare of cost.
Gone? Nay just waiting on God's wide shoreline,
The coming of life's vessels–yours and mine.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast. –(Inserted by his loving mother, Mrs. H. Duff.)
DUFF.–In loving memory of our dear brother, Driver David Ernest Duff, who was killed in action on 2nd August, 1917, after serving over 1000 days of active service in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France, aged 25 years.
To know him was to love him.
God knows how much we miss you, Dave,
He counts each tear we shed;
And whispers, Hush, he only sleeps;
Your Davie is not dead.
Our darling Dave. –(Inserted by his sisters and brother, Jack, Rose, Grace, and Rebecca.)" - from the Melbourne Argus 01 Sep 1917 (nla.gov.au)
Click images to start slideshow.