Alexander Young (VC)

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Alexander Young
Born(1873-01-27)27 January 1873
Clarinbridge, County Galway
Died19 October 1916(1916-10-19) (aged 43)
France
Buried
Thiepval Memorial
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service1890−1916
RankLieutenant
Unit
Battles/wars
AwardsVictoria Cross (UK) ribbon.png Victoria Cross

Alexander Young VC (Ballinamana, Clarinbridge, County Galway,[1] 27 January 1873 – 19 October 1916) was an Irish South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

A native of Oranmore, County Galway, Young joined the Queen's Bays on 22 May 1890 at Renmore. He served for a time in India, and became a Riding Instructor. He first saw active service in the Mahdist War.

VC details[]

Young was 28 years old and a sergeant-major in the Cape Police, South African Forces during the Second Boer War when 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.[2]

World War I[]

Young served with the with the rank of Lieutenant in the First World War. He was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 19 October 1916.[3][4] His name is included on a list of war dead in St. Nicholas's church, Galway.

The medal[]

The medal is held in Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "Anglo Boer War.com". Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  2. ^ "No. 27373". The London Gazette. 8 November 1901. p. 7221.
  3. ^ http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1556471 CWGC entry
  4. ^ Alexander Young on Lives of the First World War
  5. ^ "Lord Ashcroft VC collection". Retrieved 1 March 2013.

Listed in order of publication year

  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
  • Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
  • Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
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