David "Dave/Aron" John Garside was born on 12 October 1946 in Bombay, India. He served with 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (V), (10 PARA (V) ).  He joined the Army in 1962 as a boy soldier with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, then moved into the Airborne Forces with 16 Heavy Drop Coy RAOC. David then left the Army for a short time before returning with Support Coy 10 PARA (V).

He successfully passed parachute jump instruction on Course AVR 15/72. His training jumps ran between 21 and 27 September 1972. David served with the Airborne Forces for 17 years.

David was killed in a training accident during a recruit training cadre on 11 July 1979. For his gallant actions that day he was posthumously awarded the George Medal in March 1980. David died of his wounds at Nevill Hall Hospital the same day. He was laid to rest in The Aldershot Military Hospital. His gravestone reads "Sadly missed by his family and friends".

His citation reads:

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, HONOURS AND AWARDS, CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

St. James's Palace, London S.W.I

Tuesday 25th March 1980

"The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the George Medal to: 23913522 Sergeant David John GARSIDE, 10th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. On 11th July 1979, during recruit cadre training at Sennybridge, Sergeant Garside, a Territorial Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the 10th (Volunteer) Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was supervising live grenade throwing. During the live grenade throwing an incident took place when a recruit, in the act of preparing to throw a live grenade, allowed the striker level to spring off prematurely, and at the same time appeared to freeze with the grenade in his hand.

At this point Sergeant Garside acting with total disregard for his own safety and with great resource, took preventive action to move the recruit to safety whilst at the same time endeavouring to get him to either throw the grenade or drop it, It was in the course of this action, whilst Sergeant Garside was pushing the recruit to safety, that the grenade dropped to the ground and exploded underneath Sergeant Garside. As a result of the explosion Sergeant Garside sustained fatal injuries and the recruit received superficial injuries. It is clear that Sergeant Garside acted with great coolness and presence of mind, and with complete disregard for his own safety, and in so doing gave his life saving the life of a recruit. His act was one of great bravery, sacrifice and coolness."