Thomas Young
Private, 9th Battalion. Durham Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 1346 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 9th Battalion. Durham Light Infantry all Durham Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 25–31 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 4th June 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 28th January 1895 at Bolden, County Durham
- Died
- 15th October 1966 at Whickham, County Durham
- Memorial / grave
- at St Patrick's Cemetery, High Spen, County Durham
- Medal held by
- the Durham Light Infantry Museum,
Digest of citation
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
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
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).
Additional information
Army No., 203590, Private Thomas Young's real name was Morrell. ( not yet ascertained a reason for this change).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Patrick's Cemetery, High Spen, County Durham
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 Thomas Young by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.