YATE, George Allix Lavington. (reg No. 1339).
Major. 2nd Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 25th November 1914.
VC Medal's Custodian is King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum, Doncaster.
Born on 14th March 1872 at Madeley, Shropshire.
Died on 20th September 1914 , from his wounds whilst in a Prisoner-of-War Camp at Targau, Germany. *
Memorial on grave at Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Stahsdorf, Germany.
Digest of Citation reads:
Major Yate was commanding a company, one of two, that had remained to the end in the trenches on the 26th August, 1914, at Le Cateau in France. When all the officers were killed or wounded, and their ammunition finished, he led the remaining 19 survivors in a charge against the enemy. He was severely wounded in this charge and was eventually captured by the Germans and taken eventually to a prison camp. It was here, at Targau, POW Camp that he died on the 20th September 1914.
Additional information:. Major Yate was the son of the Prebendary George Edward Yate. He was educated at Weymouth College and in 1890 entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, where out of 1100 candidates, he passed out in ninth place. On 13th August 1892, he joined the 2nd Battalion the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Bombay. He gained the medal and clasp of the Tirah Expedition (1897-98), during which he saw his first action. In 1899 he was promoted to Captain. At the outbreak of the Boer War he was with his regiment in Mauritius. From here they were picked up by HMS Powerful who had been ordered take the KOYLI to South Africa. Major Yate was so seriously wounded at the Battle of Graspan that he wasn't considered fit enough to return to active service until the war was almost over. He was in the party that went under a white flag to see General Botha regarding the negotiations for peace. His Queen's Medal and four Clasps were awarded for service in the Boer War.
On 17th September 1903 he married Florence Helena Brigg. They had no children. He hunted with the hounds at Albrighton, played polo, enjoyed skiing. He enjoyed writing and wrote several articles for Blackwood's Magazine.
* It is said, by some, that he was wounded trying to escape from Targau. It is true that he was severely wounded in the charge on 26th August 1914, and it is more likely that he died of these wounds.

YESHWANT GHADGE (reg. No 1340)
Naik 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. Indian Army.
London Gazetted on 2nd November 1944.
VC Medal's Custodian is not known.
Born on 16th November 1921 at Phalasgaon Village in the Kolaba District of Bombay.
Killed in Action on 10th July 1944 at the Upper Tiber Valley, Morlupo, Italy.
Memorial on Cassino Memorial, Italy. (Final resting place unknown).
Digest of Citation reads:
Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was in command of a rifle section in the Upper Tiber Valley, Italy on 10th July 1944, when they came under heavy machine-gun fire which killed or wounded every member of the section with the exception of himself. Without a thought for his own safety, he rushed the machine-gun post. Throwing in a grenade first, knocking out the machine-gun and its operator, then shooting another member of the gun crew. Finding himself with no time to change his magazine he clubbed the two remaining crew to death. He was then mortally wounded by an enemy sniper.

YOUENS, Frederick. (reg No. 1341).
Second Lieutenant. 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 2nd August, 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Durham Light Infantry Museum.
Born on 14th August, 1895 at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
Died from his wounds on 9th July 1917 near Hill 60, Belgium.
Memorial at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Belgium and in High Wycombe Parish Church, Buckinghamshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 7th July 1917 near Hill 60, Belgium intelligence had reason to believe that the enemy were preparing to carry out a raid on our trenches. Second Lieutenant Youens, already been wounded, immediately set out to reorganise a Lewis gun team which had been thrown into confusion after a heavy shelling. During this time an enemy bomb fell on the gun position and failed to explode. The Lieutenant picked it up and threw it over the parapet, but a short time later, another bomb landed close to the same position. Again he picked it up, but before he could return it over the parapet it exploded, severely wounding him and some of his men. Lieutenant Youens died of his wounds two days later..

YOULL, John Scott. (reg No. 1342).
Second Lieutenant. 1st Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers. *
London Gazetted on 25th July 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 6th June 1897 at Thorncroft, Thornley, County Durham.
Killed in action on 27th October 1918 during the crossing of the River Piave.
Memorial on grave at Giavera British Cemetery, Treviso, Italy.
Digest of Citation reads:
On the 15th in June 1918, Second Lieutenant Youll was commanding a patrol south-west of Asiago, Italy, when they came under heavy enemy fire. After ordering his men to return to safety, he remained to survey the situation. He found that he was unable to return to his company so he reported to another unit. Here he took command of several men, all from different units, and held the position against enemy attack until a machine-gun opened up on his rear. Rushing towards the gun, he killed most of the crew, captured the gun and opened fire: inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Lieutenant Youll then carried out three separate counter-attacks, each one resulting in the enemy being driven back.
* Attached to the 11th Service Battalion.
Additional information:. Second Lieutenant Youll, was the younger son of Richard and Margaret Youll of Thorncroft, Thornley, County Durham. Educated at Thornley Council School, he attended technical classes at Wingate provided by the Durham County Council. He began work as an apprentice electrician at Thornley Colliery before joining the Army on the 1st July 1916 in the Royal Engineers. As a Sapper he did good service in the European War (WWI) and was recommended for a commission. He was posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers in June 1917, returning to France. He saw action at Polygon Wood where he was mentioned in despatches. The regiment had not had a VC since the Siege of Lucknow, India.

YOUNG, Alexander. (reg No. 1343).
Sergeant-Major. Cape Police. South African Forces..
London Gazetted on 8th November 1901.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 27th January 1873 at Ballinona, Clarinbridge, County Galway, Ireland.
Killed in action on 19th October 1916 on the Somme, France.
Sergeant-Major Young has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 13th August 1901 at the close of the action at Ruiter's Kraal, South Africa, Sergeant-Major Young, along with a small party of men, charged some kopjes which were being held by a score of Boers under Commandant Erasmus. When they arrived at these kopjes they saw the enemy galloping back to another one, also held by the Boers. The Sergeant-Major then galloped 50 yards ahead of his men and closed with the Boers. After shooting one of them, Captain Erasmus was taken prisoner but not before he fired point-blank, three times, at Sergeant-Major Young.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Young was the son of William and Annie Young of Ballinona, Clarinbridge, County Galway. After being dedicated at the Model School, Galway, he joined the Army in the Queen's Bays on the 22nd May, 1890. His expertise on a horse soon earned him a place as a riding instructor. It was in the Sudan, under Lord Kitchener, where he saw his first action. He was eventually transferred to the Cape Police as a riding instructor. He saw action in the Boer War. he was killed in action on the Somme on 19th October 1916, his body never being recovered. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, which is dedicated to more than 73,000 men who were missing in the First World War.

YOUNG, Frank Edward. (reg No. 1344).
2nd Lieutenant. 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment
London Gazetted on 14th December, 1918.
V.C. Medal's Custodian is the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regimental Museum (Luton).
Born on 2nd October 1895 at Cherat, NorthWest Province, India.
Died on 18th September, 1918 near Havrincourt, France. (killed in action).
Memorials at Hermies Hill British Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial in St Mary's Churchyard, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 18th September, 1918 south-east of Havrincourt, France, during an enemy counter-attack and throughout intense enemy fire, 2nd Lieutenant Young visited all posts, warned the garrisons and encouraged the men. In the early stages of the attack he rescued two of his men who had been captured and bombed and silenced an enemy machine gun. Then he fought his way back to the main barricade and drove out a party of the enemy assembling there. Throughout four hours of heavy fighting this officer set a fine example and was last seen fighting hand-to-hand against a considerable number of the enemy.

YOUNG, John Francis. (reg No. 1345).
Private. 87th Battalion. Quebec Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 14th December 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 14th January 1893 at Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
Died on 7th November 1929, at Quebec, Canada.
Memorial on grave at Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads:
Throughout the operations on the 2nd 3rd and 4th September 1918, whilst acting as a stretcher bearer he showed the greatest Valour and devotion to duty. On the 2nd September 1918, in an attack at the Dury Arras Sector, France, whilst attached to D company, the company came under heavy shell and machine-gun fire: causing them to suffer many casualties. Without hesitation, Private Young went out into the open, where there was a complete absence of cover and the area was being swept with enemy fire, and there worked ceaselessly to dress the wounds on the casualties. He returned to replenish his supplies of bandages and dressings, all of the time under extremely heavy enemy fire, on more than one occasion. For over an hour he continued this heroic work. When the enemy fire had died down, he personally led parties of stretcher-bearers to bring in the casualties that he had dressed earlier.
* Canadian Grenadier Guards.
Additional information:. Army No. 177239, Private Young moved to Montreal , Canada, where he was employed as a Tobacco Packer. It was here that he enlisted, as one of the few 'originals', on 20th October 1915 in the 87th Battalion of the Quebec Regiment. During the European War, (WW I) he was wounded.

YOUNG, * Thomas. (reg No. 1346).
Private. 9th Battalion. Durham Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 4th June 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Durham Light Infantry Museum,
Born on 28th January 1895 at Bolden, County Durham.
Died on 15th October 1966 at Whickham, County Durham.
Memorial on grave at St Patrick's Cemetery, High Spen, County Durham.
Digest of Citation reads:
For five days from 21st/25th March 1918 at Bucquoy, France, when acting as a stretcher bearer, Private Young set a most outstanding example of courage and devotion to duty when under extremely heavy rifle, machine-gun and shellfire, directed at him personally, he, on no less than nine different occasions went out in front of the Regiment's lines, in broad daylight, to bring back the wounded to safety. Those that were too severely injured to be moved, Private Young attended to their injuries under extremely harassing fire, then carrying them himself to the safety of the Allied lines. By this action, he rescued, and saved, the nine lives of his comrades. His complete disregard for his own safety, his ceaseless energy and his ability to dress the wounded goes beyond any praise possible.
Additional information:. Army No., 203590, Private Thomas Young's real name was Morrell. ( not yet ascertained a reason for this change).

YOUNG,Thomas James (Reg. No.1347)
Lieutenant (later Captain) Royal Navy (Naval Brigade).
London Gazetted on 1st February 1849.
VC Medal's custodian is the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Born on: 1827. Actual date and place not known.
Died on: 20th March 1869 at Caen, France.
Memorial at: Protestant Cemetery, Rue de Magazin á Poudre, Caen, France.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 16 November 1867 at Lucknow, India, naval guns were brought up close to the Shah Nujeff mosque, and the gun crews kept up a steady fire in an attempt to breach the walls, while a hail of musket balls and grenades from the mutineers inside the mosque caused heavy casualties. Lieutenant Young moved from gun to gun giving encouragement, and when he and an able seaman (see W. HALL*. Reg. No.511)were the only survivors, all the rest being killed or wounded, Lieutenant Young took the last gunners place and between them they loaded and fired the gun.
Additional information: He was the Brother-in-law of Midshipman Duncan Gordon Boyes VC. He also had Campaign Medal for the Crimea with Azov clasp as well as the Order of Medjidie, 5th Class. His Companion, AB William Hall was the first coloured man to win the VC.

YOUNG, William (Reg.No.1348)
Private 8th Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment
London Gazetted on 30th March 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Queen's Lancashire Regimental Museum
Born on 1st January 1876 at Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland.
Died on 27th August 1916 at Aldershot, Hampshire.
Memorial at Preston Cemetery (New hall Lane),Lancashire.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 22nd December 1915, East of Fonquevillers, France, Private Young saw from his trench that one of his company's NCOs was lying wounded in front of the wire. Acting without orders and heedless of his exposure to enemy fire, he climbed over the parapet and went to the rescue of his sergeant. He was hit by two bullets, one shattered his jaw and the other entered his chest. Undeterred, he went on and, with another soldier who came to assist, brought the wounded sergeant back to safety. Later Private Young walked back to the village dressing station to have his injuries attended to.
Additional information: Private William Young , Army No. 5938. Had an elementary education and and joined the Army at the age of 15. He was the son of Samuel Young (Contractors labourer) and Mary Ellen Young (née Simmonds) and He was employed as a labourer at the Gas-works before being recalled to the army at the outbreak of World War One.
He won the Victoria Cross for saving the life of Sergeant Allan (a golf professional). He Died on 28th August 1916 after an operation, for his wounds, at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot.
He was married (wife's name not mentioned) and they had eight children.:-William aged 15; Mary Ellen aged 12; Margaret aged 10; Elizabeth aged 9; Thomas aged 7; Samuel aged 5 and Frederick age 4.
His wife wrote: '' I could never draw from my husband and account of how he won his VC., only what you already know, but I want to tell you that he was a first Battalion man with 17 and a half years service. I do not want him to be published as a 'Kitchener man', as he was a reservist at the outbreak of war. ''
Mr J.T. Kendall, of the Lancashire Daily Post supplied the following facts: " At the time of joining up, as a reservist of the East Lancashire Regiment, he was living at 7 Heysham Street, Preston with his wife and eight children. Like all heroes, he was extremely modest about his achievement, and even his wife knew nothing about it until congratulations began to shower upon her after the London Gazette publication of 30th March, 1916.
He later stated that he was in the trenches practically for the first time after leaving hospital for trouble with his eyes after being gassed, when he saw his sergeant fall. He volunteered to fetch him in, and had got him as far as the Parapet when he was struck by a bullet in the jaw. They tried to get him in, but he refused to be budge until the sergeant was safe.

Private Young was brought to England for treatment, and was accorded a civic reception at Preston. A fund of £560 was raised for the benefit of his family. Unfortunately Private Young did not live long enough to enjoy the honour, and, as a matter-of-fact, he never received personally the award from His Majesty, as he Died on in Cambridge hospital, Aldershot, the last Sunday in August 1916 under an operation for his jaw.
He was buried at Preston, the townspeople giving him one of the most magnificent funerals ever remembered.
Citation in the 'Victoria Cross 1856-1920' reads:
William Young, No. 5938. Private, 8th (Service) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. For most conspicuous bravery. On seeing that his sergeant had been wounded, he left his trench to attend to him under very heavy fire. The wounded in non-commissioned officer requested Private Young to get under cover, but he refused, and was almost immediately very seriously wounded by having both jaws shattered. Not withstanding his terrible injuries Private Young continued endeavouring to effect a rescue upon which he had set his mind, and eventually succeeded with the aid of another soldier. He then went unaided into the dressing station, where it was discovered that he had also been shot wounded by a rifle bullet in the chest. The the great fortitude, determination, courage and devotion to duty displayed by this soldier could hardly be surpassed. ''

YOUNGER, David Reginald. (Reg No. 1349).
Captain. 1st Battalion. Gordon Highlanders.
London Gazetted on 8th August 1902. *
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 17th March 1871 at Edinburgh.
Killed in action on 11th June 1900 at Lechochoek, Transvaal, South Africa.
Memorial on grave at Krugersdorp Cemetery, Transvaal, South Africa.
Digest citation reads:
Captain Younger headed a party near Krugersdorp, South Africa, on 11th July 1900. They successfully manhandled an artillery wagon, protected only by a small kopje, even so they were exposed to heavy and precise enemy fire. He joined the second party which had gone out to attempt to bring in the guns and he was mortally wounded and later dying of these wounds.
Additional information:. Captain Younger served as an officer in the Edinburgh Artillery before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders on 23rd December 1893. In India he saw action at Chitral and the Punjab Frontier. On the 20th October 1897 he took part in the assault on Dargai, a precipitous hill feature on the Samana Ridge which covered the road to Tirah (now in Pakistan). He received the Medal and three clasps. Captain Younger's relatives received his Victoria Cross after his Majesty King Edward VII had approved the Decoration in accordance with the regulations.
* "The Victoria Cross 1856-1920," records Captain Younger as being Gazetted on the 28th September 1900 . where it is stated that "David Reginald Younger,, Captain, The Gordon Highlanders. In recognition of the conspicuous bravery displayed by a him on the same occasion , 11th July, 1900, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for the Victoria Cross had he survived."
He would have won his Victoria Cross at the same time as Captain William Eagleson Gordon, also of the Gordon Highlanders