Lieutenant Alexander Young VC, South African Scottish Regiment, 1916

Photograph, World War One (1914-1918), 1916.

Alexander Young (1873-1916) was born in Clarinbridge, County Galway, the son of William and Annie Young. He joined the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) on 22 May 1890 at Renmore and served for a time in India, became a riding instructor and taking part in the 2nd Sudan War (1896-1898). Young later transferred to the Cape Mounted Police and served as a sergeant-major with the latter during the Boer War (1899-1902). He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for an action at Ruiter's Kraal in 1901. The 'London Gazette' of 8 November 1901 described how:

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'.

Young later took part in the suppression of the Herero Rebellion in German South West Africa in 1904. Following the outbreak of the First World War he joined the Natal Light Horse before transferring to the South African Scottish. He was serving with the latter on the Somme when he was killed in action at the Butte de Warlencourt on 19 October 1916. Young is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.