Person:David Banks (2)

David was born on 29 Dec 1879.[1] His mother died on 14 Mar 1881 when he was only 15 months old.

In the 1881 census aged 1, he is with his sisters Agnes and Rosina staying with their aunt and uncle Rosina and Benjamin Park at 29 West Longrigg, New Monkland, Lanarkshire.

1891 Census shows him living at Broomhill Pl. New Monklands Lanarkshire. He is aged 11 and living with his grandmother Rosina McBroom (M/S Hamilton) aged 60

Prior to his marriage he was living at Carfin Road, New Stevenston, Holytown.

After he was married[2] they lived in 33 Logans Rows, Deziel, Motherwell. The 1911 Census[3] shows him aged 31 living with Jeanie his wife aged 28, Jeanie his daughter aged 7, David his son aged 5 and Agnes his daughter aged 2. At some point later they moved to Springside, staying initially in Black's Square (Coreshill Square). The Ordinance Survey map of 1910 shows this location.[4]

Before the first world war he twice worked his passage to New York where he worked on the docks. The second time he left the house to buy milk at the local shop. There he met a man he knew who was travelling to Greenock to work his passage to New York. This man told him that he could join him as there were still positions available on the ship. He joined him without informing anyone of where he was going, it was only when two years later when he sent a postcard home that anyone knew what had happened to him.

On 25 Apr 1904 David Banks of Holytown is listed as a passenger landing at New York from a ship named "Columbia"

On 14 Aug 1905 David Banks of Longriggend is listed as a passenger landing at New York from a ship named "Numidian"

During the first world war in 1916, while working as as coal miner/shot firer, he volunteered as a tunneler planting explosives under German positions.

He was gassed after a British gassing operation had to be aborted due to a change in wind direction. When the Germans saw that the British positions had been abandoned, they rushed forward and turned the gas back on, gassing the retreating British troops.

Due to the injuries to his lungs he was given a medical discharge. He spent a long time in sanatoriums recovering, but never regaining enough strength to work again.

In 1964 he fell while running to catch a bus and broke his hip joint, he was the confined to bed for two years before he died.

He passed away in 1966.[5]

Death Certificate