Capt Young VC South African Scottish

[ARMAGH]

Whilst researching Irelands Memorial Records I came across Capt A Young VC South African Scottish

born Ireland.

Can any member of the forum provide any details?

Casualty Details

Name:YOUNG, ALEXANDERInitials:ANationality:South AfricanRank:LieutenantRegiment/Service:South African InfantryUnit Text:4th Regt.Age:44Date of Death:19/10/1916Awards:V CAdditional information:Son of the late William Young, of Ballinamana, Co. Galway.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Pier and Face 4 C.Memorial:THIEPVAL MEMORIALCitation:An extract taken from the London Gazette dated 8th November, 1901 records the following; "Towards the close of the action at Ruiter's Kraal (South African War). on the 13th August, 1901, Sergeant-Major Young, with a handful of men, rushed some kopjes which were being held by the Boers. Sergeant Major Young then galloped on some 50 yards ahead of his party and closing with the enemy shot one of them and captured Commandant Erasmus, the latter firing at him three times at point blank range before being taken prisoner."

[Steven Broomfield]

Buchan's The South African Forces in France merely states that he was killed as follows:

(October 19th 1916) Meanwhile, Lukin had sent forward a company of the 4th Regiment, under Captain Ross, with instructions to carry out a fresh attack at the junction of Snag and Tail trenches. Capt Ross reached the front line around 4.00 a.m. on the morning of the 19th. At around 5 o' clock the enemy launched an assault with bombs and flamenwerfer against Capt Langdale's and Capt Ross's men in Snag Trench, and drove them out, with heavy casualties to Capt Ross's company. The leader was wounded, and Lieutenant Young, VC, was killed.

[ARMAGH]

Thanks Steven

I am sure that more details hopefull will come out,I wonder where he was born in Ireland?

Joe

[ronmarsden]

Joe.from the Transvaal Scottish history Appendix A.

On the 18th Oct 200 bombers, Lewis gunners and signallers of the South African Scottish, under Captain T.H.Ross,took part in a further attempt on the Butte, which ended in failure at great cost.

Captain Ross was wounded and Lt. Young V.C.killed. It was here that the Battalion first encountered the enemy's flamenwerfers.

Ron.

[SWorrall]

I would recommend Ian Uys' superb 'Delville Wood' (1983) ISBN 0-620-06611-3 , or his 'For Valour, the History of Southern Africa's Victoria Cross Heroes' (1973) ISBN unknown.

There is an entire page potted biog of Capt. Young VC on pages 25 - 26 of the former, plus a description of his wounding, return to service and death.

"The most highly decorated officer in the SA Brigade was Lieut Alexander 'Sandy' Young VC, 43, who was born at Balinona, Ireland in 1873. He was an outstanding horseman and served with the Queens Bays from 1890. He became a riding instructor in India, then served in the 2nd Dragoon Guards in Egypt and the Sudan as a Sergeant-major."

"In 1897 Young performed his daring feats of horsemanship before Queen Victoria at Aldershot. While in charge of the 2/D. G. riding school at Canterbury he was severely kicked by a horse , which forced him to retire from the Army."

"Young fretted at inactivity and in August 1899 came to South Africa, where he joined the Cape Mounted Police. During the South African (i.e. 2nd Boer) War he served as a sgt.-maj and was wounded at Stormberg. He was mentioned in dispatches for his coolness during the saving of Bethulie Bridge in March 1900".

"He won the Victoria Cross 17 months later, when he was again wounded. London Gazette, November 18th 1901: "Alexander Young, Sergt.-Major, Cape Police. Toward the end of the action at Ruiter's Kraal on the 13th August 1901, Sergt.-Major Young, with a handful of men, rushed some kopjes which were being held by Commandant Erasmus and about 20 Boers. On reaching these kopjes the enemy were seen galloping back to another kopje held by the Boers. Sergt.-Major Young then galloped on some 50 yards ahead of his party and, closing with the enemy, shot one of them and captured Commandant Erasmus, the latter firing at him three times at point-blank range before being taken prisoner."

"After the war Young took part in the suppression of the Herero Rebellion in SW Africa in 1904. He then went farming near Bulwer, where he often broke in horses for other farmers. He was an unholy Irish terror, however loved children and all animals".

"He would flatter the childrens governess by telling her that she was the prettiest 'colleen' he had seen since leaving Galway, then would ask her to give them a half-day holiday. No wonder they loved him. Whenever the children asked him how he had won his VC, Young would say "I chanced me arm". When his troop horse, Paddy, on which he had won his VC, died, Young wept unashamedly."

"On the outbreak of war in 1914 Young became roaring drunk and went out to the German Trappist Mission where he turned the priests and all out and made them sing 'God Save the King'."

"Young served in SW Africa as RSM of the Natal Light Horse until February 1915, then as temporary lieutenant with the Umvoti Mounted Rifles. He was one of the first volunteers for the SA Brigade and was commisioned in the 4th SAI and posted to 'D' Company."

It goes on, later to mention his wounding in Delville Wood. He was wounded in the arm. As he retired he saw a French officer whose leg had been shattered by a shell. He dragged this officer to safety, whereupon the grateful Frenchman removed the Legion d'Honneur off his own tunic and pinned it on to the breast of the gallant Connaught man.

Then towards the end of the book;

"He was invalided to England and hospitalised at Brighton. He returned to France in September 1916 and fought under Capt. Ross at the Butte de Warlencourt on 18th October. He was killed the following mornign when the Germans counter-attacked with flammenwerfers. He is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and on the Bulwer (Natal) War memorial."

Buy the book from wherever you can find it, it is the best treatment of the battle and gives a huge amount of background info about the men, just like this.

Simon.

[ARMAGH]

Joe.from the Transvaal Scottish history Appendix A.

On the 18th Oct 200 bombers, Lewis gunners and signallers of the South African Scottish, under Captain T.H.Ross,took part in a further attempt on the Butte, which ended in failure at great cost.

Captain Ross was wounded and Lt. Young V.C.killed. It was here that the Battalion first encountered the enemy's flamenwerfers.

Ron.

Thanks Ron

No photo?

Thanks Simon,I will look for the book.

Joe

[SWorrall]

There are photos of the officers of the 4th SAI and also of Young VC individually (a head and shoulders next to his career biog on P.25) in Uys' book.

Simon.

[ronmarsden]

Joe, He is on the back row in this photo.

Ron.

[ARMAGH]

Thanks Ron

From your amazng collection of photos

Joe

[linge]

Born 27th January 1873, Ballinona, Clarinbridge, Co Galway

Regards

Pam

[ARMAGH]

Born 27th January 1873, Ballinona, Clarinbridge, Co Galway

Regards

Pam

Thanks Pam

Joe

[Mark Wilkie]

A few lines from Peter Digby's "Pyramids and Poppies: the 1st SA Inf Brigade in Libya, France & Flanders 1915-1919":

"Brig-Gen Lukin now ordered Major Hunt, OC 4th SAI, to dispatch a company of 120 men to be placed at the disposal of Lt-Col Dawson. They were to attack the Snag Trench with various remnants of 1st SAI. Although the company of the 4th under Captain T H Ross reached the Snag Treanch at 4 a.m. on the 19 October without mishap, they were faced with a heavy German counterattack in which flammenwerfers and grenades drove Ross and Langdale's men back along the trench. Ross was wounded and Lieut Sandy Young VC was killed. Young, who had won the Victoria Cross serving with the Scottish Horse at Ruiterkraal on 13 August 1901 during the Anglo-Boer War, had assisted the Germans in quelling an Herero uprising while on detached duty from the Cape Mounted Police in 1906. He had captured the Herero leader."

[ATNOMIS]

Alexander Young vc Face book page.