Thomas Young (VC)

Thomas Young VC (28 January, 1895 - 15 October, 1966) was an British 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.

Details

From High Spen in what is now the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. He was 23 years old, and a private in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

During the period 25/31 March 1918 at Bucquoy, France, Private Young, a stretcher-bearer, worked unceasingly evacuating the wounded from seemingly impossible places. On nine different occasions he went out in front of British lines in broad daylight, under heavy rifle, machine-gun and shell fire and brought back wounded to safety. Those too badly wounded to be moved before dressing, he dressed under fire and then carried them back unaided. He saved nine lives in this manner.

Further information

Real name Thomas MORRELL.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Durham Light Infantry Museum & Durham Art Gallery "(Durham City, UK".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/codurham.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Co. Durham)"

* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DUR/HighSpen/Part3.html History of High Spen, where Young lived]

* [http://www.bpears.org.uk/Misc/Gateshead_Plaques/index.html#Dobson_Young Memorial to two village heroes] at High Spen Primary School