Name
Albert Henry Young
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
436706
Canadian Infantry
49th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 24 - 28 - 30.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial
Pre War
Born in Bushey on 10th January 1890 and christened in Oxhey on 20 March 1891, Albert Henry Young was the son of Thomas Charles and Louisa Ann (nee Deering) Young. His parents were married in 1882 at St Dunstan and All Saints Church in Stepney.
At the 1901 census, Albert was 11 years old and living with his parents and six siblings at 42 Falconer Road in Bushey. Thomas and Louisa were 47 and 38 years old respectively and Thomas was working as a Railway Clerk for the London and North Western Railway. Albert’s siblings were Ada A, Florence A, Elsie L, Gertrude A, Percy F, who were 16, 14, 8, 6, 4 years respectively, and the youngest, Harold O, who was just 4 months old. Birthplaces were given as Stepney for Thomas and Louisa, Bow for Ada and Bushey for all the other children.
At the 1911 census, the family were still living at 42 Falconer Road and Albert then had another sister named Kathleen May, who was nine years old. The record indicated that Thomas and Louisa had had nine children one of whom had died in childhood. The children’s names were also expanded as Florence Amelia, Elsie Louisa, Gertrude Alice, Percy Frederick, Harold Oswald.
Albert emigrated to Canada, probably between 1901 and 1911, since it has not been possible to locate him on the 1911 census.
Wartime Service
Albert Henry Young attested at Edmonton on 1 February 1915 and served as Private 436706 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Initially with the 51st Battalion he was later transferred to the 49th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry.
His Canadian service record states he was 25 years old, 5 feet six inches in height, with a 36 inch chest when full expanded (with a range of expansion of 4 inches), of medium complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He was working as an engineer and gave his next of kin as his mother, Louisa, living at 42, Falconer Road in Bushey.
Albert sailed from Montreal to England on 11 September 1915 on the SS Metagama, which had been launched in 1914 and entered the Canadian Pacific’s North Atlantic Service. The Metagama often carried Canadian troops in third-class accommodation on eastbound crossings. He was taken on strength at Shorncliffe camp in Kent on 14 September 1915. Shorncliffe was used as a staging post for troops destined for the western front. He forfeit 3 days pay due to absence on 29 September 1915.
Albert was disembarked in France on 9 October 1915 and served with the 49th Battalion. He was reported missing and was presumed killed in action between 2nd and 5th of June 1916. He is remembered with honour on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium and is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial on Clay Hill. He was entitled to the 15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.
At the time when Albert was presumed killed in action, the 49th Division was fighting in the area of Mount Sorrel (Sanctuary Wood) near Ypres. The following are brief extracts from the Newsletter of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum (https://www.lermuseum.org/images/stories/pdfs/rem_16-2.pdf).
‘After holding on during intense enemy bombardment throughout June 4, early on June 5 the 49th Bn was relieved. Only four officers and 260 men marched out. Another perspective to the tragic losses of the 49th at Mount Sorrel was stated by Griesbach three months later: “On the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June, this Battalion lost 16 out of 22 officers on duty with the Battalion, and 403 other ranks out of a strength of 750.’
‘The attack went in at daybreak after a short artillery bombardment. June 3, 1916 was the first day in the war for the 49th Bn to go “over the top.” The 49th was expected to advance across 600 metres of open ground, unsupported on its flanks towards a tangled, irregular piece of woodland sloping up to a low ridge. Maj. Hobbins described their advance, “… the officers of the Battalion leapt up on the parapet and, followed by their men, dashed forward across the open to the attack. There were many eye witnesses of this gallant but fatal assault, and they unite in expressions of praise for the manner in which the advance was made.” One 49th Bn sergeant, Bill Bate with 21 years of service in the Royal Marines, his officer wounded and out of action, lead his platoon over the top and into the holocaust with the words, “It’s bloody suicide, mates, but it’s orders.” Within a matter of minutes, Bate and many other originals would breathe their last.'
‘The 49th Bn advance was made by A Coy on the left and B Coy on the right. C Coy was initially in support, while D Coy was in reserve. The two forward companies were able to push forward to within 50 metres of the German front line, where they were held up by fixed rifle and machine gun fire. Another segment of the advancing 49th was able to advance 200 metres from their parapet before being mowed down by a hail of rifle and machine gun fire, together with shrapnel and H.E. (high explosive) artillery rounds, the small arms fire coming from the former German front line. Further advance by the battalion was cancelled by a shortage of bombs, so the 49th companies were ordered by Hobbins to hold the line at all costs and to block the trenches from potential German flank attack. Finding that a flanking front was not being held by anyone, the 49th extended D Coy’s line towards that held by the 43rd (Winnipeg, Cameron Highlanders) Bn’.
There is an entry for Albert’s father in the National Probate Calendar for 1913 which reads; “YOUNG Thomas Charles of 42 Falconer-road Bushey Hertfordshire died 17 January 1913 Probate London 14 February to Louisa Ann Young widow. Effects £192 1s. 4d.”
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
