Australian Mining Corps
When World War I broke out in 1914, David was a strenuous supporter of the war effort, supporting the campaign for conscription and using his advocacy and organisational abilities to set up the Australian Mining Corps (or "Tunnellers") in August 1915.
David enlisted with them as a Major, at the unusually advanced age of 58. In February 1916 they sailed for the Western Front. When there he used his geological expertise to advise on the construction of dugouts, trenches, and tunnels, and to aid in the provision of pure drinking water from underground supplies.
Later that year the Corps was disbanded and its personnel redistributed. David became relatively independent and spent his time in geological investigations. In September 1916 he fell to the bottom of a well he was examining, breaking two ribs and rupturing his urethra. He was invalided to London but returned to the Front in November.
On 7 June 1917 his wartime contribution culminated in the mining of German positions in the Battle of Messines.
In January 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. and in November he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. The war having concluded, he was demobilised in 1919.
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