Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

David was the oldest child born on the 26th March 1911 to David Best and Annie Elizabeth Howard in the inner north suburb of Bowden. This area, near Brompton was mainly populated by working class families who worked in local industries. David’s siblings included Greta, Edgar and Myra. A subsequent son, Victor George was born in July 1914 and died a year later. Albert Howard, born in March ’22 similarly died in January ’23. Both infants are buried together in the Hindmarsh Cemetery.
David was eight years old when his 36-year-old father died in August 1919. David Snr’s mother placed a lengthy tribute in the newspaper; HOWARD.—In loving memory of our dear son and brother, David Best Howard, who died August 26, 1919.
Farewell, my dear son, farewell; Thy earthly race is run,
Though crushed with grief, I'll strive to say, O, my God, Thy will be done.
Though sadness now will fill my life, With woe and bitter pain,
I'll murmur not, for well I know My loss is thy great gain.
If your grave could only open, What changes you would see;
But it is better, yes, far better, There is rest, sweet rest for thee.
Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, brother, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and auntie.
David and his siblings attended the local Brompton Public School. His widowed mother, Annie soon met Albert John Arscott in 1920. He divorced his current wife in ’21 to marry Annie the following year. They began an extended family with a son Richard Ernest ‘Buttons’ Arscott, born on the 19 July 24. (Richard later enlisted for World War II Service.) The fate of other children was quite tragic. William Harold Arscott born in July ’26 lived just 5 months and died in December; Alfred James Arscott born in June ’27 died 4 months later in October. All babies were buried in the same grave at Hindmarsh. Other siblings of David included Gilbert, Ronald, Betty, Kingsley, Lionel, and Frank.
David gained work as a labourer with the Australian Glass Factory at Kilkenny. He married his local Bowden sweetheart, Thelma Doreen Adell Barnes having two children including Peter David, and John.
However, with the development of WWII, 29 yar old David, affectionately known as ‘Bunna’ enlisted on the 21st June ’40 and was allocated the number SX6228 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. (His step-brother, Richard Ernest Arscott, known as ‘Buttons’ later also enlisted in March ’44 as SN152621 in the Royal Australian Air Force, becoming a Leading Aircraftsman. He survived the war and was discharged in March ’46.)
Two months after David enlisted, he was involved in an horrific accident, even before he had begun his service overseas. 52 of his fellow soldiers at the time with the 2/10th Battalion reinforcements, were involved in a massive disaster on Port Road Cheltenham.
After morning training in September, 160 soldiers from A Company marching along Port road, near Cheltenham Cemetery, when a motor lorry, loaded with timber, overtook the group less than 15 yards from their usual turn off. A projecting piece of timber, which had slipped off the main load, mowed down the outside flank of soldiers who were all flung away from the lorry by the impact and were scattered over the roadway. The lorry driver was unaware of the wood slippage, or that he had knocked down the soldiers, as he drove on. Some of the unhurt soldiers chased and stopped him. Lieut. G. Bonython immediately sent word to Cheltenham camp while the injured men were treated until the arrival of the medical officer, Major Lewis, military and civil ambulances, and military motor lorries. Eight of the men were admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with fractured skulls. Private Howard was in a group of six who were treated in the Camp Hospital. 37 were ‘kept under observation’ in camp. Officially his injuries were described as facial and head abrasions and David was granted three days convalescent leave. Ironically, a Court of Inquiry was held that August, inevitably finding that David’s injuries were not due to negligence either on his or another’s action.
Training at Woodside followed before David embarked on the Stratheden on November 7th, arriving in the Middle East on December 17th.
He was soon part of the epic battle to hold Tobruk. The desert conditions, flies, heat and fleas plus living in sandy dug-outs caused the men to be taunted as living like rats. Rather than destroying morale, the term was seized on as an unofficial honor to be a Rat of Tobruk and highly regarded.
The men had ‘dug in’ expecting a massive assault on the 12th April. At dawn everything was quiet, apart from what John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described as ‘the morning ‘hate’ from the German guns and the circling of the ‘Milkman’, an inquisitive German reconnaissance plane. In the following days a successful, strategic move saw German tanks move forward to attack, believing the troops would surrender. However, the troops allowed the tanks to advance then attacked the following infantry while to tanks came under withering fire. During this encounter is when David was initially wounded.
Aged 30 he died of his wounds on the 18th of April in Libya. In the following chaotic time, initial newspaper reports on the 3rd May indicated that David was Killed in Action with SX403 Pte. Benjamin E. Nicker, a Bombardier in the 2/3rd Field regiment and SX6228 Pte. D. H. W. Howard, of Bowden, South Australia (Inf.).
However, by the 16th May this was corrected to indicate David died of his wounds. Because of the conditions of war, David was initially buried in Grave 133 in the Tobruk War Cemetery.
David’s family placed tributes to him in the May issue of the Chronicle. HOWARD.—On the 18th of April, killed in action, Private David, 2nd A.I.F., loving son of the late David Howard and loving nephew of Mrs. W. Reed and Mrs. Archibald Gray, of Brompton. At rest. HOWARD.—Killed in action on the 18th of April, David (Bunna), dearly loved husband of Thelma and father of Peter and Jack. Aged 30 years. Sadly missed. HOWARD.—Killed in action on the 18th of April, David (Bunna), loved son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spain, of Bowden.—Ever remembered. HOWARD, Pte., 2nd A.I.F.—Killed in action on the 18th of April, David, dear beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Arscott, of Bowden, and brother of Greta, Edgar, Myra, Victor, Richard, Gilbert, Ronald, Betty, Kingsley, Lionel, and Frank, Peacefully sleeping.
David now rests in the Tobruk War Cemetery Plot 3 Row L Grave 10. He rests with others from the 2nd/1st, 2/9th 2/17th, 2/12th and 20th Brigade Signals, A.A.O.C. His family chose the inscription ‘He Died For The Ones He Loved’ for his epitaph.
David is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in Hindmarsh SA, also his name is located at panel 63 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. Thelma lived to be 78 with her remains being cremated.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Homes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.