Main CPGW Record
Surname: MASON
Forename(s): David
Place of Birth: Silsden, Yorkshire
Service No: 3907
Rank: Driver
Regiment / Corps / Service: Australian Field Artillery
Battalion / Unit: 1st Divisional Ammunition Column
Division: 1st Australian Division
Age: 24
Date of Death: 1917-09-30
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: XXIV. E. 20.
CWGC Cemetery: LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SILSDEN, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
David Mason (born 2 December 1892) was the son of Tom and Martha Ann Mason, née Clarkson. Both parents were born at Silsden, Yorkshire. David was baptized at Silsden Parish Church, 2 April 1993 as David Eastwood Clarkson Fenwick Mason
1901 Silsden, Yorkshire Census: 14, Chapel Street - David Mason aged 8 years, born Silsden, son of Tom and Martha A. Mason.
1911 Silsden, Yorkshire Census: 14, Chapel Street - David Mason, aged 20 years, born Silsden, son of Tom Mason, widower.
Australian service records: www.naa.gov.au › The collection › Popular research topics › Defence › Service records
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
MASON, Driver David, aged 24, A.I.F., son of Mr. T. Mason, Chapel Street, [Silsden], died of wounds Sept. 30, 1917.
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Driver David MASON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Australian Field Artillery
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 1st Australian Division
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30 July 1915
SILSDEN MAN IN DARDANELLES
Mr. A. Elder, of Bolton Road, Silsden, a former schoolmaster at Aire View School, has received a letter from an old scholar of his – David Mason – who is at present serving with the Australian Expeditionary Force in the vicinity of the Dardanelles. Private Mason, who emigrated to Australia some years ago, enlisted soon after the outbreak of war. In his lengthy and inscriptive communication he recollected his preliminary training and subsequent voyage to Egypt, which occupied just over four weeks. After moving about in Egypt for some time they got orders to go to the Dardanelles at once. He proceeds:– “We were on the water about three days when early one morning we were stopped by two torpedo boats and they took us into a harbour, which was surrounded by mines. Once we got in there we were safe, and they closed the gate after us. We waited there for three days, when orders came that everything was right for us to go to the Dardanelles.
“When we got there we saw all we wanted to see in a few minutes. The battleships were letting bang with shells into the Turkish Forts. You could see bricks and dust flying all over the place. My word it was a sight, it was awful: everything was one mass of ruins and burning flames of fire. We were stood off about one mile from the shore with battleships all around us letting bang. We could see the ‘Lizzie’ letting the Turks have it hot. What she hit she did make it fly.
“There was a battery let three shots go at ‘Lizzie,’ but she soon made a mess of it. She let one broad side at them and after the smoke had cleared away you could not see a living soul about where the shots had landed. She found a fort early one morning and let bang at it, and blew the lot up into the air. There were two big guns on moveable tables sixteen feet long. At the first attempt she only broke the tables the guns were on, and then she put one amongst the Turks and scattered the lot of them.
“The same day a flying machine came over the top of us, but she did not want us. She let four bombs drop nearly on to the observer who was in a balloon just off the right side of us. We all kept our eyes on him when suddenly we heard a bang and looking up we saw a shell burst just beneath him. He turned tail and went for all he was worth, and we never saw him after that.
“Our captain then got orders to move to an island about eight miles away as we had a lot of ammunition on board. We had over nine million rounds with us, so later on they sent little boats to take it ashore for the big guns. We were there a week awaiting orders what to do. At night we used to sit on the deck with all the lights out, and we could see the fight with the big guns. It was a sight I shall never forget as long as I live. Shells were flying all over the place. You could not hear for the noise, and especially when the battleships were letting bang, the boats used to fairly tremble.
“One morning we were just wondering what our next move would be, when a torpedo boat came up along side of us with orders aboard stating that we had to move off to where our infantry was going to land, about 10 miles up the coast. When we got there we could see our infantry already in the boats to go towards the shore, and the ‘Triumph’ and the ‘Lizzie’ were ready for action, as the Turks had guns on the hill side.
“The hill side was just like a honeycomb, full of passages for the guns to go through. As soon as all was ready for the attack on the hill, the whistles on the ships rang out and the boats moved on to the shore. Then the battleships started to let bang and knocked the guns and Turks out of the hill like skittles. The water was boiling with bullets and shrapnel from the Turkish guns. At last our band got ashore, fixed their bayonets, and off they marched up the hill killing the Turks in great numbers.
“At last the ships stopped firing and up went a loud cheer from the lads ashore. They had taken the hill, which is about 800 feet high. All the whistles on the boats sounded and then all the men on the boats to the number of 6,000 sent up a cheer. It was a sight, and once on the top of the hill they made a charge at the Turks, who ran for their very lives, but they were cut up like ribbons for a while.
“Then we got our machine gun section ashore, and they dug themselves in as they expected a night attack. They had very good cover behind a lot of bushes, but after a while our men had to fall back. The Turks not knowing our machine guns were there came on in large numbers and our lads did their work well, enticing the Turks along. Our men got into trenches and the guns finished the Turks off. The guns fired 700 shots a minute, and they mowed the Turks down like corn. It was awful to see it.
“It then came in dark, but we could still see the rifles and guns spilling fire like mad. Next morning our lads had got well inland, and the warships were letting the Turks have it from all sides. They tried to land our horses, but found it was impossible as the hill was too dangerous, and they could not get them up. We are now back in Egypt again awaiting orders. It is very dusty, and it is a good job we are near the beach as we can have a swim when we like.”
27 August 1915
A SILSDEN MAN WITH THE COLONIALS
In a letter to County Alderman Richard Fletcher, of Riversleigh, Silsden, Driver David Mason, who emigrated to Australia some years ago, enlisted in that country soon after the outbreak of war, and has taken part in hostilities at the Dardanelles, says:– “I write these few lines to let you know that I am still alive and kicking, and I hope you are all well at Silsden. I have been a member of the Australian Forces for about eleven months now, and I find the Australians a lot of good lads. My pal who is with the Tommies out here gets a local paper each week, and while I was reading it I noticed that a lot of Silsden lads had joined the Army, but I never see any out here, although I am always looking for them.” Driver Mason was a native of Silsden.
25 August 1916
SILSDEN – REFERENCES TO SILSDEN HEROES
Another interesting batch of letters are to hand from Silsden soldiers and sailors on active service acknowledging the receipt of more parcels. The contents of the parcels sent out included a pair of socks, a quantity of sweets, cake, Oxo tablets, cocoa tablets, tin of Swiss milk, trench body cord, tea tablets, and a card bearing the inscription ‘With the best wishes from the inhabitants of Silsden.’ Most of the socks had been knitted by the members of the Silsden Parish Church Girls’ Friendly Society, whose efforts some time ago enabled them to set aside funds for the purchase of wool. Appended are extracts from the letters which have been sent to Mrs. Charles Sugden, of Bolton Road, Silsden:–
C.P. Breare writes:–“Many thanks for the lovely parcel which has arrived intact. I was sorry to read in the local papers of Silsden lads who had given their lives for this noble cause. I have not come across any Silsden soldiers out here with one exception, and he a former resident in the person of David Mason, of the Australian Field Artillery. I had almost forgotten him, but we soon found one another out and had a good talk about Silsden. He told me that he had had some lovely parcels from the Silsden people, and he, like myself, was pleased he was not forgotten by the old townspeople.”
15 September 1916
SILSDEN
Mrs. Charles Sugden, of 62, Bolton Road, Silsden, has received more letters from Silsden soldiers serving abroad in acknowledgment of the recent parcels sent out to them.
David Mason, of the Australian Expeditionary Force, and a former resident of Silsden, writing from France, says:– “I am quite well, and hope that the people of Silsden are the same. I hope the Feast at Silsden passed off under good weather conditions. We have feasts every night out here, with lovely music from the big shells as they come flying over our heads. We give the Germans plenty to go on with, I can assure you. The things you sent me are just what we need. At present we are moving pretty frequently, and we find the tea and milk very handy. We just light a fire by the roadside, boil some water, and the rest is easily done.”
Letters have also been received from Albert Wright, of the West Yorkshire Pioneers; Corporal W. Carter, 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment; James Stocks and J. Smith.
19 October 1917
MASON – September 30th 1917, died at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, France, from wounds received in action, Driver David Mason, Australian Imperial Force, son of Mr. Tom Mason, Chapel Street, Silsden, aged 24 years.
19 October 1917
SILSDEN – SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS
Official information has been received that Driver David Mason, of the Australian Imperial Force, and son of Mr. Tom Mason, Chapel Street, Silsden, has died of wounds received in France. In a letter to the deceased soldier’s father from the A.I.F. Administrative Headquarters, Westminster, Lieut. L. E. Taplin, states:– “It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the very sad intelligence that David Mason, ----- Divisional Ammunition Column, A.I.F., died on September 30th at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, France, from shrapnel wounds in the back, leg and abdomen received whilst serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France.”
Driver Mason, who was 24 years of age, had been in Australia for several years prior to the outbreak of war, and responded to the call for men in that country in 1914. He had taken part in active operations in Egypt, the Dardanelles, and had been for a good while on the Western Front. At the time of his death he had seen about three years’ service. He was one of a trio of Silsden young men who joined the forces in Australia.
26 October 1917
MASON – September 30th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Driver David Mason, formerly of Silsden.
26 October 1917
SILSDEN – THE WAR'S TOLL
Information concerning the death of Driver David Mason, of Silsden, has been furnished in a letter sent to Miss Bancroft, of Silsden, by one of his pals, Driver P. C. Brynes. The latter writes:–
“I am sure the news concerning Driver Mason's death will be a great blow to his people as it is likewise to me. I had been camping with him for some time, and had become very much attached to him. How he met his death I will try to explain. It was Sunday night, the 30th September. We were all in the dugout together. David and I were busy writing on some cards when he was called out into the horse lines for some reason - I don’t exactly know what. However, while he was out a German taube came over and dropped bombs in the camp. We soon learned that David had been badly wounded. I quickly went out to dress his wounds, he having been hit in both legs, and a fairly large piece of shrapnel had entered his back. This, he said, he could feel on his stomach, as he was continually complaining about his stomach. He died after being admitted to hospital, which was done in all good haste. Poor David was always talking about his sisters, of whom he was very fond. I trust they will accept my sincerest sympathy in their sad bereavement. He was thought well of by all who knew him.”
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
30 July 1915
SILSDEN SOLDIER’S EXPERIENCES IN THE DARDANELLES
The following letter has been sent by Mr. David Mason (who is a driver in the B Sub Section, 3rd Reinforcement, 1st D.A.C., Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force, and who is fighting at the Dardanelles.
Mr. Mason formerly lived at Silsden, and while attending the Aireview Board School, was under the charge of Mr. A. Elder, who was then headmaster of the school. Later he went out to Australia and has repeatedly kept up correspondence with Mr. Elder of Bolton Road, Silsden, who resigned his duties as headmaster some time since. Mr. Mason says:– “I will tell you about my journey since I joined the Army. We left Broadmeadows for Sydney and had a very good time on the train. We called at a few stations on the way to get some food, which was being prepared for us, but when it came to sleeping we had to sleep ham-sandwich fashion. About 7 o’clock the following morning we came to another station, and we all got out and had a wash and then we had a good breakfast, which consisted of ham and eggs, fruit and other things. Then we took up the journey again arriving at Sydney Station about 11 a.m., after travelling about 500 miles. Then we marched 3 miles through the city to the barracks. We got there just in time for dinner, for which we were also ready. After dinner our captain said we could have leave from 3 o’clock until 11 at night, and a few of us got together and wandered about in the city until we got lost. Consequently we had to take a motor back to the barracks. We arrived at the latter place at about 2 o’clock in the morning. The difficulty confronting us was how to pass the guard without being caught. We were just discussing the problem when up came some of the lads who had been there for a few weeks, and knew the run of the place, and they told us to follow them. So off we all crawled through a little square hole in the wall and got into bed safely.”
TRAINING WITH THE HORSES
“Next morning we got up and had breakfast, and then we all fell in on parade at 9 o’clock. Then we marched round to the stables and saddled up the horses, which were all strangers to us, as we had left our own horses behind. Anyhow, we got into the training paddock, which was deep with sand, so that if we fell off we should not hurt ourselves. There was only one horse that could buck, but the lad stuck to it all right; then started the fun. The Captain stood in the middle of the ring with a big stock whip. We all had to trot round without stirrups, then without reins we had to gallop round a small circle and we had to bend down and touch our toes with our left hand. The Captain was whipping the horses round, and my word it took some sticking. We were all doing all sorts of tricks on them, and when we had finished we took our horses back to the stables and fed them all. Next morning the captain instructed us to fill our water bottles and haversacks, and then he took us out for a day with the guns and wagons. We went along the sea coast and then took the horses out and fed them. We then had our dinner and a smoke, and no sooner had we done that than up came a lad on horseback with a message, stating that we had to go back right away. So off we went. We got back in good time, and the road being very rough it nearly shook the gunners to pieces. When we landed we had to fall in, and the heads read out the orders, which stated that we had to go on board ship at 7 o’clock in the morning. It was pouring with rain when we started, and by the time we landed we were wet to the skin. We stopped in the harbour about 2 hours and then we started off to a place called Newcastle for some young horses for the Light Horsemen. We put 800 of them on board the ship in five hours, then we started off for Egypt. It took us about four weeks and two days, in which time we never saw land nor ships until we got to the Suez Canal, when we saw six Indian troopships going with troops to France.”
THE IMAGE IN THE SAND
“We passed our time very well. We had to exercise and groom our horses every day, and the food was very good, too. When we got to Port Suez, we got news that the Turks were fighting on the Canal, but they were soon beaten off. Then we had to load our horses onto railway trucks and went off one section at a time. It took us about 7 hours to get to Cairo, and then we had to march three miles to the camp. When we arrived we had to get to bed the best way we could. We never had a bite for 24 hours. At last we made a noise about it and the officers got us some food. Next morning we set off again for another camp. We marched 6 miles to the camp then rode 8 miles to the Mena Camp at the Pyramids up to our knees in sand. It was awful. The people who said it was nice must have been mad, for it took our horses all their time to pull the wagons through it. Then we pitched our tents, and we were there 3 weeks, when we got our orders to move off to the boat, and get all our things aboard. We got all the horses and wagons on, and were ready to go when war orders came to say that we had to stop a few more days. We therefore had to unload everything and about 6 days later we got order to proceed at once.”
GET AWAY TO THE DARDANELLES
“We were on the water about 3 days, when early one morning we were stopped by two torpedo boats, and they took us into a harbour which was surrounded by mines. Once we got in there we were safe, as they closed the gate after us. We waited there for 3 days, when orders came that everything was right for us to go to the Dardanelles. When we got there we saw all we wanted to see in a few minutes. The battleships were letting bang with shells into the Turkish forts. You could see bricks and the dust flying all over the place. My word, it was a sight. It was awful. Everything was one mass of ruins and burning flames of fire. We were stood off about a mile from the shore with battleships all around us and letting bang. We could see the ‘Lizzie’ letting the Turks have it hot. What she hit did make it fly. There was a battery let three shots go at ‘Lizzie’ but she soon made a mess of it. She let one broadside at them and after the smoke had cleared away you could not see a living soul about where the shots had landed. She found a fort early one morning and let bang at it and blew the lot up in the air. There were two big guns on moveable tables sixteen feet long. At the first attempt she only broke the tables the guns were on, then she put one amongst the Turks and scattered the lot of them. The same day a flying machine came over the top of us, but she did not want us. She let four bombs drop nearly on to the observer on a balloon that was just off the right side of us. We all kept our eyes on him when suddenly we heard a bang and looking up saw a shell burst just underneath him and he turned tail and went for all his worth, and we never saw him afterwards. Our captain received orders to move from where we were stood to an island about 8 miles away, because we had such a lot of ammunition on board. We had over nine million rounds on us, so later on they sent small boats to take it from us for the big guns ashore. We were there a week waiting orders what to do. At night time we used to sit on the deck with all the lights out. We could see the fight with the big guns. It was a sight I shall never forget as long as I live. Shells were flying all over the place. You could not hear for the noise, especially when the battleships let bang; the boats used to tremble. One morning we were just wondering what our next move would be when up came a torpedo boat alongside us, with orders aboard, and said we had to move off to where our infantry was going to land, about 10 miles up the coast. So as soon as we got there we had our eyes moving round. We would see our infantry already in boats to go towards the shore.”
THE TRIUMPH AND THE ‘LIZZIE’ READY FOR ACTION
“The Turks had guns in the hillside. The hill was just like a honeycomb, full of passages for the guns to go through the hill. As soon as all was ready for the attack on the hill, the whistles on the ships rang out, and the boats moved out for the shore, then the battleships started to let bang and knocked the guns and Turks out of the hill like skittles. The water was just boiling with bullets and shrapnel from the Turkish guns. At last our lads got ashore, fixed their bayonets, and off they charged up the hill, killing the Turks in great numbers; at last the ships stopped firing and up went a loud cheer from the lads ashore. They had taken the hill, which is about 500 ft. high. All the whistles on the boats were sounded and everyone sent a cheer up. It was a sight. Once on the top of the hill they made a charge at the Turks and they went off for their lives, but they got cut up like ribbons for a time. We then got our machine gun section ashore, and they dug themselves in as they expected a night attack. They had very good cover behind a lot of bushes. Often our men had to fall back, and the Turks did not know about these machine guns being here. Soon they came in large mobs. Our lads did their work well, enticing the Turks along. Our lads got into the trenches and the guns finished the Turks off. These guns fire about 700 shots a minute, and they mowed them like corn. It was awful to see it. Then it became dark and we could still see the rifles and guns spitting fire like mad. Next morning our lads had got well inland, and the warships were letting the Turks have it from all sides. They tried to land our horses, but found it impossible as the hill was too dangerous, and we could not get them up. So we are now back in Egypt again awaiting orders.”
25 August 1916
LETTERS FROM SILSDEN SOLDIERS
A further batch of letters have been received by Mrs. C. Sugden, of Bolton Road, Silsden, from local soldiers and sailors thanking the inhabitants of Silsden for the parcels which have been recently sent out to them. The following are extracts from some of the letters:–
C.P. Breare states:– “It is with great pleasure I write these few lines to thank you and the people of Silsden for the lovely parcel I received quite intact today. I quite enjoyed the cake, and the other things are quite useful out here I can assure you. I was sorry to read in the local paper about the Silsden lads who had given their lives for the noble cause. I have not come across many Silsden lads out here, in fact I can safely say only one, and he only a former Silsdener of the name of David Mason, of the Australian R.F.A. I had almost forgotten him. We had a good talk about Silsden. He also told me that he had had some lovely parcels from the Silsden people, and like myself was very pleased he was not forgotten by his old townspeople. We are having good weather here just now, I am pleased to say, and hope it is similar with you.”
15 September 1916
LETTERS FROM SILSDEN SOLDIERS – Thanks for Parcels
Mrs. C Sugden, of Bolton road, Silsden, has received another batch of letters from local soldiers serving abroad, in acknowledgement of parcels which have recently been sent out to them. The following are extracts from some of the letters:–
David Mason, of the Australian Expeditionary Force, and a former resident of Silsden, writing from France, says:– “I am quite well, and hope the people of Silsden are the same. I hope the Feast at Silsden passed off under good weather conditions. We have feasts every night out here, with lovely music from the big shells as they come flying over our heads. We give the Germans plenty to go on with, I can assure you. The things you sent me are just what we need. At present we are moving pretty frequently, and we find the tea and milk very handy. We just light a fire by the roadside, boil some water; and the rest is easily done.”
19 October 1917
MASON – Died of wounds in France, Sept. 30th, Driver David Mason, of the Australian Imperial Force, son of Mr. Tom Mason, of Chapel Street, Silsden, aged 24.
19 October 1917
SILSDEN
DRIVER D. MASON DIES OF WOUNDS
Mr. Tom Mason, of Chapel Street, Silsden, has received official information that his son, Driver David Mason, of the Australian Imperial Force, has died of wounds received in France. In a letter to the deceased soldier’s father from the Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters, Westminster, Lieut. L. E. Taplin states:– “It is with deepest regret that 1 have to inform you of the very sad intelligence that David Mason, of the Divisional Ammunition Column, A.I.F, died on Sept. 30th, at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station, France, from shrapnel wounds in the back, leg, and abdomen, received whilst serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France.” Driver Mason, who was 24 years of age, had been in Australia for several years prior to the outbreak of war, and responded to the call for men in that country in 1914. He had taken part in active operations in Egypt, the Dardanelles, and had been for a good while on the Western front. At the time of his death he had seen about three years’ service. He was one of a trio of Silsden young men joined the forces in Australia.
26 October 1917
SILSDEN
THE LATE DRIVER D. MASON
Information concerning the death of Driver D. Mason, of Silsden, has been furnished in a letter sent to Miss Bancroft, of Silsden, by one of his pals, Driver P. C. Brynes. The latter states:– “I am sure the news concerning Driver Mason’s death will be a great blow to his people, as it is likewise to me. I have been camping with him for some time and had become very much attached to him. How he met his death I will try to explain. It was Sunday night, the 30th September. We were all in the dug-out together. David and I were busy writing on some cards when he was called out into the horse lines for some reason I don’t exactly know what. However, while he was out a German taube came over and dropped bombs in the camp. We soon learned that David had been badly wounded. I quickly went out to dress his wounds, he having been hit in both legs, and a fairly large piece of shrapnel had entered his back. This he said he could feel on his stomach, as he was continually complaining about his stomach. He died after being admitted to hospital, which was done in all good haste. Poor David was always talking about his sisters, of whom be was very fond. I trust they will accept my sincerest sympathy in their sad bereavement. He was thought well of by all who knew him.”
16 November 1917
SILSDEN
SCOUTS’ ROLL OF HONOUR
The following is a list of the Boy Scouts connected with the Silsden Parish Church Troop serving in the Army and Navy:– Scoutmaster Tom Ayrey, Sam Bancroft, Geoffrey Barrett, Tom B. Wilkinson, James Fry, Harold Newnes, Frank Steel, Lawrence Galvin, Edward Galvin (discharged), Duncan Wade, Jack Crossley, Ottewell Lodge, Frank Shackleton, Tom Stocks (Second-Lieutenant), Tom Shackleton, Ernest Bottomley, Edward Saddington, Ernest Shackleton, Fred Bancroft (Military Medal), Willie Bancroft, Tom Cooke, Harold Middleton, Cyril Riley, Alfred Spencer, Oswald Hill, Isaac Webster, Rowland Hill (killed), Norman Phillip (killed), Ernest, Hardcastle (killed), and David Mason (killed).
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