David Vincent Matingell

Rank: Private

Regiment: 3rd Pioneers, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Address: Born in Caterham, Surrey

Other Info: He has had experience as both soldier and sailor. At the outbreak of the war he was an ex-Navy man, and was in the City Salvage Corps. He voluntarily returned to the Navy at Portsmouth, the week the war started. After several short cruises he joined HMS Kent. He was in the Falkland Island Battle, was on board when the Kent sunk the German cruiser Nurnburg and later took part in the destruction of the German cruiser Dresden off Juan Fernandez Island in the Pacific. The Kent being send to harbour for repairs, he was permitted to leave his ship to go into the Army. He joined the 48th Canadians (now the 3rd Pioneers), who were training at Victoria. He only spent three weeks in Canada, and sailed three days after enlistment. He was four months in France, and was invalided home from the Somme.

David’s CEF enlistment forms can be viewed for free here.

Published: April 1917

Please use the comments box below if you can provide more information about this person.