David was born in Chelsea, the elder son of Hugh Edward Joicey, 3rd Baron Joicey and his wife, Lady Joan Katherine Lambton.

He was educated at Eton and Matriculated in 1940. He was up at Christ Church for a year.

He was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant on 20 November 1941 and served in the 3rd Battalion, The Coldstream Guards.

He died on 25 September 1943 from wounds received at Salerno and is buried in the Salerno War Cemetery Plot III. A. 33.

He is commemorated on the War Memorial at St Michael & All Angels Church, Ford, Northumberland.