Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

David Claud Bauer who died of illness on 3rd November 1918 was the son of the late Mr. Julius Bauer. He was born in 1890 and entered the Prep in 1901, going up to the Senior School in 1903. He left in 1904 for England, where he entered Dulwich College in 1905 in the Engineering side. He was appointed Prefect, being the youngest in the School, and left in 1907. He subsequently joined his father's pearl business and went to West Australia for some years being in charge of the business at Broome at the outbreak of war. He went to England at latter end of 1915 and joined the RFC in 1916. After a course of instruction at Oxford he was granted his commission, posted to a unit, and after crashing with an aeroplane was transferred to the Kite Balloon Branch. He arrived in Frnace on 18th March 1917, and after some little time in the field was appointed to the command of his section, and was later promoted to Captain in command of No 12 Kite Balloon Company, RAF. He was awarded DFC on 3rd June 1918 for the following service; "This Officer has commanded No 18 Balloon Section located near the Lille Gate in Ypres throughout the battles of the Second Army in the autumn of 1917. His camp was continually under shell fire from guns of large calibre, and his balloon was hit many times, but nevertheless much important work was done by his section, He showed courage and set a good example to all , and it was largely due to him that work was carried on at all under such conditions." He died at a CCS near Bapaume, from pneumonia, and was buried at Delsaux Farm Military Cemetery. His Colonel wrote; "Had he not died in hospital he would have headed the list of recommendations for further decorations."

War Services Old Melburnians 1914 - 1918