William Young

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

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. ''