David was born in 1920 in Glasgow to William (Woolf) and Martha nee Gillen and he was the youngest of four children. His grandfather was from Lithuania and the family became naturalised British citizens in 1895. David worked as a furrier before he enlisted in 1940. Records state that he was the squad designated marksman.

He was captured by the Japanese on 8 March 1942 and was imprisoned in Borneo. David died from malaria at Sandakan prisoner of war camp. He had been previously held at Java, Singapore and Borneo.