David was born in 1890 to William and Mary Ann Wallace. William was a tailor from Glasgow and a well-known entertainer. He was the brother of Eleanor, Mary Ann, William, James R., John, Henry (Harry) and Lily Wallace. John and Henry both served and were killed in the war.
Henry was an International Rugby Player. He was educated at Tynemouth High School, then between 1908 and 1910 he trained to be a teacher at Armstrong College, becoming a Schoolmaster at Royal Jubilee School, North Shields. Before his death, he wrote to his students about his experiences in the war, joking that he was beginning to think he was "bullet-proof". David was also a member of Percy Park Rugby Football Club where he played half-back and he attended Christ Church, North Shields.
David served as a Second Lieutenant in the South Lancashire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, "C" Company. He was commissioned into the Special Reserve of Officers in 1912 and enlisted on the 4th August 1914. He served at Mons and Cambrai, and on the Marne and Aisne. David died on 19th September 1914 at Vic-sur-Aisne aged 24.