Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:
Rifleman David William West was born in New Cross and his birth was registered in Greenwich in the 4th quarter of 1894. He was the only son of the three children of Edwin West and Esther West née Godley. His father was a Police Constable. The 1901 census shows the family living at 31 Chubworthy Street, Deptford. In December 1910 he was appointed as an Assistant Postman in the London Postal Service. The 1911 census shows the family living at 75 Pagnell Street, New Cross and his occupation is recorded as a Telegraph Messenger. In July 1914 he was promoted to the grade of Postman in the London West area.
In late 1914 he joined the 1st/8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 2516 and entered France on 18 March 1915. On 25th March 1918 he was transferred to 1st/17th Battalion, London Regiment (Poplar & Stepney Rifles), and his service number by then had changed to 370711. He was wounded and died, aged 24 years, on 11 September 1918 at the 9th USA General Hospital, Rouen, France and was buried in Grave R.III.H.6. at the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. On 10 January 1919 his father, was sent his effects totalling £10-17s-10d and on 9 December 1919 a £18-10s-0d war gratuity was sent to his father. He was posthumously awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory medal.
