Alexander Young
Sergeant-Major, Cape Police. South African Forces
- Register No.
- 1343 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant-Major (register: Sergeant Major) all Sergeant-Majors →
- Unit
- Cape Police. South African Forces all Cape Police VCs →
- Date of action
- 13 August 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 8th November 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 27th January 1873 at Ballinona, Clarinbridge, County Galway,
- Died
- in action on 19th October 1916 on the Somme, France
- Medal held by
- unknown
Digest of citation
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
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
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.
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.
Ireland.
Sergeant-Major Young has no known grave but is commemorated on
the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Places connected with Young
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