Alexander Young (VC)
Alexander Young | |
|---|---|
 Young on a cigarette card | |
| Born | 27 January 1873 Clarinbridge,County Galway,Ireland[1] |
| Died | 19 October 1916(aged 43) France |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Cape Colony South Africa |
| Service/ | British Army South African Army |
| Years of service | 1890–1916 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) Cape Police |
| Battles/wars | Reconquest of Sudan Second Boer War Bambatha Rebellion First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Alexander Young,VC(27 January 1873 – 19 October 1916) was an Irish-born South African soldier and a recipient of theVictoria Cross,the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British andCommonwealthforces.
A native ofOranmore,County Galway,Young joined theQueen's Bayson 22 May 1890 atRenmore.He served for a time in India, becoming a riding instructor. He took part in thereconquest of Sudan,and afterwards went to South Africa, joining theCape Policeas an instructor, with the rank ofregimental sergeant major,serving in theSecond Boer War.[2]
VC details[edit]
Young was 28 years old and asergeant-majorin theCape Police,South African Forcesduring theSecond Boer Warwhen the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Towards the close of the action at Ruiter's Kraal on the 13th August, 1901, Sergeant-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. 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.[3]
Later service[edit]
Continuing with the Cape Police, from 1904 Young served on the border withGerman South West Africaduring theHerero Wars,and in 1906 helped suppress theBambatha Rebellionin Natal.[2]
During theFirst World War,in 1915 he served with theNatal Light HorseinSouth West Africa,then in the North AfricanSenussi campaign.[2]Volunteering for service in France, he was commissioned in theSouth African Scottish Regimentwith the rank oflieutenant.[4]He was killed in action during theBattle of the Sommeon 19 October 1916.[5]His name appears on theThiepval Memorialin France[6]and St. Nicholas's church,Galway.
The medal[edit]
Young's Victoria Cross is held in Lord Ashcroft's VC collection in theImperial War Museum,London.[7]
References[edit]
- ^"Anglo Boer War".Retrieved1 March2013.
- ^abc"Lieutenant Alexander Young".Army and Navy Gazette (via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).23 December 1916. p. 13.Retrieved7 July2024.(subscription required)
- ^"No. 27373".The London Gazette.8 November 1901. p. 7221.
- ^"No. 29453".The London Gazette(Supplement). 25 January 1916. p. 1111.
- ^Alexander YoungonLives of the First World War
- ^"CWGC entry".Retrieved7 July2024.
- ^"Lord Ashcroft VC collection".Retrieved1 March2013.
- 1873 births
- 1916 deaths
- 19th-century Irish people
- Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross
- South African recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Second Boer War recipients of the Victoria Cross
- British Army personnel of the Mahdist War
- South African military personnel killed in World War I
- 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) soldiers
- People from Oranmore
- South African Army officers
- Military personnel from County Galway
- British people in colonial India
- British emigrants to the Cape Colony
- People from Clarinbridge