Cooktown-born David Garry was only 18 when he enlisted in August 1917, joining the 31st Regiment. Two months later his older brother John was killed in action. Garry, though, did not reach France until five days before armistice, having spent time training at Codford, followed by the School of Instruction at the Jellalabad Barracks in Taunton.
He returned to Australia in mid-1919.
His soccer career spanned both sides of his war service. Garry was reported playing as early as 1913 in a school game in 1913 for Rest of Toowoomba against North School. Later, in 1917, he played for Allies in the junior grades. After the war he became a prominent player for Norths, Middle Ridge and Rangers until 1930.
Garry also became a referee during this period and later became the assistant secretary of the Toowoomba Association. During the period of great political upheaval in Queensland soccer, Garry became the secretary of successive football associations which represented the Darling Downs region from 1930.
He later moved to Dalby, west of Toowoomba.