Frederick Youens
Second Lieutenant, 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 1341 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry all Durham Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 2nd August, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 14th August, 1895 at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Belgium and in High Wycombe Parish Church, Buckinghamshire
- Medal held by
- the Durham Light Infantry Museum
Digest of citation
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
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
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..
Died from his wounds on 9th July 1917 near Hill 60, Belgium.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Belgium and in High Wycombe Parish Church, Buckinghamshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Frederick Youens by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.