War Memorials - Surnames Y

Alfred George Young was born in 1894 (GRO reference: Sep 1894 Epsom 2a 19) to Frederick William and Elizabeth Young.

In the 1891 census a 28 year old Frederick Young , whom I believe was Alfred's father, lived at Stamford Cottage, Hampton Wick. He had been born in Tonbridge. He was the head of the household, and shown as single, but he had a one year old son Samuel. His 33 year old cousin, Elizabeth Peckham, a 'House Keeper' from Tudeley, lived there with her four year old daughter Rosetta (GRO reference: Mar 1887 Bromley 2a 392), from Chislehurst.

In the 1901 census the family are living at 11 Kingston Terrace, Kingston Road, Ewell. Alfred's father, Frederick W Young, is described as a 'Labourer General', born in Tonbridge, is now married to Elizabeth, from Tudeley. Albert has four siblings Rose 14 born in Bromley, Samuel 11, Thomas 9, and Mary 3.

1913 electoral roll shows Frederick William living at Rose Cottage, Cottage Road, West Ewell. Ewell Old Boys' Association member 1913-1914 confirms that this was no.7, Cottage Road, West Ewell.

Alfred enlisted in London on 18 November 1914 into the 5th Reserve Battalion Grenadier Guards for three years or the duration of the war. He gave his age as 20 and his trade or calling as a barman. He lived at 7 Cottage Road. He was a tall, well-built man at 5 feet 10 ¾ inches, with a chest measurement of 37 inches and expansion of 4 inches. A mole in the middle of his chest was noted as a distinguishing mark. On 20 November 1914 he joined the Guards at Caterham.

Alfred was transferred to the 4th Battalion on 21 July 1915 and embarked on 15 August at Southampton to join the BEF in France. On 7 May 1916 he was wounded, receiving a gunshot wound to his right leg, and was treated by the 4 Field Ambulance. He was transferred to the 15 Casualty Clearing Station on 8 May, and then to 14 General Hospital at Wimereux on 10 May. He was then returned to England aboard the Hospital Ship 'St Dennis' arriving on 13 May, and transferred to the 5 Reserve Battalion.

When he had recovered he was transferred back to the 4 Battalion, and once more embarked at Southampton on 12 December 1916 to rejoin the BEF in France.

The 4 Battalion Grenadier Guards was in the 3 Brigade of the Guards Division. The Guards Division fought in the battle of Cambrai, (20 November to 7 December 1917) the first battle in history to use a massed formation of tanks. The British had taken much ground and had penetrated miles into enemy territory. On 30 November the Germans counter attacked, and on the right flank, south of the Gouzeaucourt-Bonavis road, they quickly broke into British positions. The Guards Division, still recuperating from fighting in Fontaine Notre Dame, was now heading into a bitter fight to hold the enemy at Gouzeaucourt.

On 1 December 1917, eighty one men from the 4 Grenadier Guards lost their lives including Alfred who was killed in action, aged 23. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Panel 2. CWGC states he was the 'Son of F.W. and Elizabeth Young, of 7, Cottage Road, West Ewell, Surrey'. He is also recorded on the All Saints memorial.

His father was officially notified of his death, as his next of kin, on 3 January 1918. A fortnight later Ewell Parish Council resolved to send a letter of sympathy to Mr Young of West Street. (Epsom Advertiser 18 Jan 1918)

On 12 August 1920 his father acknowledged receipt of his sons 1914-15 star, and on 26 April 1921 that he had received Alfred's British War and Victory Medals.