Captain David Claud Bauer was born on 24 December 1890 to Julius and Jane Bauer in Broome Western Australia. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School before leaving for England in 1905 where he attended Dulwich College. He subsequently joined his father's pearl business and went to West Australia was in charge of the business at Broome at the outbreak of war.

Bauer was in returned to England in January 1916 and joined the Royal Flying Corps. After he had been granted his commission he transferred into the Kite Balloon Branch. In August that year he went to France and served with No 12 Kite Balloon Company on the Somme and was later given command of No 18 section. In June 1917 was he was promoted to Lieutenant and on 3 June 1918 Bauer was awarded the DFC on, the citation read;

"This Officer has commanded No 18 Balloon Section located near the Lille Gate in Ypres throughout the battles of the Second Army in the autumn of 1917. His camp was continually under shell fire from guns of large calibre, and his balloon was hit many times, but nevertheless much important work was done by his section, He showed courage and set a good example to all, and it was largely due to him that work was carried on at all under such conditions."

In October 1918 Bauer contracted influenza and died of pneumonia on 3rd November 1918, a week before the Armistice, and was buried in the Military Cemetery at Delsaulx Farm, near Bapaume. His Colonel wrote; "Had he not died in hospital he would have headed the list of recommendations for further decorations."