Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force
Born: May 25th 1919
Died: June 2nd 1942
Age at Death: 23
Killed on active service, June 2nd 1942
House Prefect 1936
1st 11 1936
1st 15 1935-1936
David Joyce was born on 25 May 1919 and grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the son of Evelyn and Dudley Joyce, Britons who had settled in the country; and his father was a civil engineer. At Brighton College Joyce became a Prefect and was both academic and sporty, being selected for the 1st XI and 1st XV. Returning home to Argentina, he joined the Buenos Aires cricket and rugby clubs.
On the outbreak of war Joyce initially served on the Falkland Islands Defence Force, a small group of Anglo-Argentine volunteers formed to defend the islands from attack by German raiders. He may have been recruited by personal friends as many of the small group played rugby with each other back in Argentina. In October 1940 Joyce joined the Canadian Royal Air Force, having doubtless emigrated to Canada at an earlier point. He became a pilot officer with 10 Squadron, which flew bombers.
On the night of 1/2 June 1942 his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire while on a bombing mission targeting the German city of Essen. Badly damaged, it crashed, with the loss of Joyce and five other crew members, though one survived to become a prisoner of war. Joyce and his comrades are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.