Not listed on the memorial

Valentine, David

Rank	Gunner, Royal Artillery
Service Number	1528214
Born	1916 in Lochee, Dundee
Parents	David and Charlotte Ann Valentine
Date of death	5 October 1944 (Aged about 28)
Grave	Block “S”. Plot 1. Row J. Grave 10, St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Other Memorials	Scottish National War Memorial (Edinburgh Castle.)

According to Commonwealth War Graves Commission he served in 44 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, however this regiment served in Burma, not Europe.

Family state he was with Heavy artillery.

Before the war he is believed to have been a jute worker for a time.

He married Mary Burns, at Dundee in 1942. She had children by a previous marriage. They lived at Battery Road, North Queensferry.

The family were told that he collapsed while in action with his gun, possibly suffering a stroke or similar illness and died a few days later.

This seems to be borne out by his place of burial, which was largely used for casualties who died in hospital.

His widow applied for a War Widow’s Pension, but this was refused for reasons now unclear.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Scottish National War Memorial (Edinburgh Castle.)
Mrs Greer (Step-daughter)

Here dead we lie, Because we did not choose
To live and shame the land, From which we sprung.

Life, to be sure, Is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is, And we were young.

[Here Dead We Lie, A.E. Housman]

When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Your Tomorrow,
We gave our Today

[Kohima, attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds]

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