George Young

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Hawick, Roseburgshire, Scotland
Death	12 Aug 1968, aged 74
Place of Death	Leederville, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 10 months
Description	5' 7½" (1.71m) tall; weight 130 lbs (59 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	brickmaker
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Young
Military Information
Reg Number	131
Date of Enlistment	9 Sep 1914
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, B Company / 4th Brigade, 1st Division; 4th Division on Western Front
Date of Embarkation	22 Dec 1914 - 1 Feb 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Date of Return	12 Dec 1915 - ? January 1916
Ship Returned On	HMAT A15 Star of England
Fate	Wounded in Action 28 Apr 1915 Pope's Hill, Gallipoli Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel)
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Sailed to Egypt from Albany as part of the convoy of 14 Australian and 3 NZ transports, with Ajana joining at Fremantle. Proceeded from Alexandria to Gallipoli aboard Haida Pascha on 12 Apr 1915 via Lemnos Island.

Landed at 5:30 pm on 25 Apr 1915 and his battalion was sent up Monash Gulley to plug a gap in the front line. For the next 3 days they were located on Pope's Hill, alternating fighting and digging into the side of the hill. George's wounds are most likely the result of Turkish snipers who were very active and held high ground above them. George suffered a severe GSW to his left thigh on 28 Mar 1918.

Evacuated to HMT Galeka on 2 May 1915, he was transferred to HMHS Delta the next day which carried him to England where he was hospitalised in Harefield, Manchester before being sent to Base Depot Weymouth on 5 October 1915.

Repatriated to Australia via Portland on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and discharged 5th Military District 10 Jun 1916.

"...was wounded at Gallipoli on the 29th April 1915; was some time in the Manchester and Hawick hospitals, and invalided to Australia, 29th January. back at his old job."

Post War

Married on 29 Dec 1917 to Martha Violet (ex Collins). Martha died 13 Jan 1968 aged 73.

Electoral Roll entries - 1919 at 96 Brown street, Perth, brickmaker; 1921 - 1922 at 36 Bent street, Balkatta, pottery hand; 1925 - 1934 Mukinbudin, farmer; 1936 - 1963 at 105 Bourke street, Balkatta, labourer. In 1937 his occupation was listed as pottery hand.

Pension - George is initially awarded a pension of £26 per annum from 11 Jun 1916. On 31 Jan 1918 his pension was reduced to 20/- [£1] fortnightly. Martha was granted a pension of 15/- from the date of their marriage, along with 10/- for her son Henry Robert Collins (d.14 Apr 1999 aged 86), later reduced to 6/6 from 31 Jan 1918, and daughter (Irene Rebecca Collins) 7/6 reduced to 5/- from 31 Jan 1918.

From 15 Aug 1918 George's pension was reduced to 15/- fortnightly, his wife Martha Violet had hers reduced to 7/6 fortnightly, step son Henry Robert Collins had his reduced to 5/- fortnightly; and step daughter Irene Rebecca Collins had hers reduced to 3/9 fortnightly.

Notes

Comment in The Drill of the Foothills matches George's military records. Inferred that he was a resident of the district at time of enlistment.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial