Sgt 15022 Herbert George Young

• Age: 24
• From: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Herbert George Young was born in 1892 in Rock Ferry, the son of George Edwin Young and Frances Young (nee Jones). His mother and father were both born in London and married at St Mary's Church, Barnes, Surrey on the 17th August 1887. George gave his address as Beverley Villa, Sandy Road, Seaforth, his father John Young, a baptist minister, whilst Frances was of Beverley Villas, Lonsdale Road, father Samuel.  

The year before Herbert was born, the census shows that his parents were living in Woodland Road, Birkenhead where his father is a merchant tailor and is an employer. The couple have two children – Ethel aged 2 and Edwin aged 1. Also residing in the household are two domestic servants.

The 1901 census shows the family living at 1 Beech Terrace, Fairfield, Liverpool. His father, George E. is aged 48, a merchant tailor, mother Frances aged 39. The 9 year old Herbert now has four siblings – Ethel M. aged 12, Edwin B. 10, Dora M. 7 and 11 month old Leslie B. i A 23 year old niece called Lucy Harrison is also in residence.

By 1911 the family are living at “Sandymount”, Elleray Park Road, New Brighton. His father George E. is aged 59, a merchant tailor, mother Frances is aged 49. They have been married for 23 years and have had five children. Only the three younger children are living at home and Herbert aged 19 is working as a cotton clerk, Dora is aged 17 and Leslie 10. They also have a servant Emily Mills aged 24. His brother Edwin has moved to Doncaster and is working as an automobile motor tester. 

His father died, aged 60, in the March quarter of 1914 in Greenwich.

Herbert enlisted at St George's Hall  in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15022.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He had reached the rank of Sergeant when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916, aged 24, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17th Bn War Diary: Battle of Transloy Ridge –

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday. Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16 - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak. 2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced. Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful. Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed, 5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds: “As the whistle blew, the 17th Battalion left its trenches to move forward. […] As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire. […] Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire. As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them. The 17th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets. Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will. It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners. There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

Herbert's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 26th October 1916:

Sergeant-Major Herbert George Young (24), K.L.R., second son of the late Mr. G. E. Young and Mrs. Young, of 16 Elleray Park Road, Wallasey. Prior to the war he was employed by a Liverpool cotton firm. He was a well-known member of the Warren Golf Club.

Further detail was provided in the Wallasey News:

Shot Through The Head

The many friends of Sergeant-Major Herbert Young will regret to hear the sad news of his death in the field in France. His mother received the sad intelligence on Sunday morning in a letter from his officer, as follows:-

“It is my sad duty to have to inform you that your son was killed in action. At the time he was acting as my company sergeant-major and was killed by my side. It will, I know, be a consolation to you to know his death was instantaneous. He was shot through the head and died immediately, being buried later on the field of battle. His death is a real loss his company and his battalion, and I feel personally that I have lost a good friend. He did everything a man could do, and gave his life for his country. If there is anything I can do please let me know, although I am sorry I was unable to secure his private papers.”

The gallant young soldier was the second son of Mrs Francis and the late George E. Young, and resided at 6, Ellery Park Road, New Brighton. He was 24 years of age, and one of the first to join the King’s Liverpool Regiment on the outbreak of war. He went to France last year and has since been through several engagements. Prior to the war, he was engaged in the cotton trade with the firm of Messrs. John Rew and Co., Cotton Exchange. He was a popular member of the Warren Golf Club for many years, and was well-known and highly esteemed in New Brighton circles. Great sympathy will be extended to the bereaved mother and family in their sad loss.

Herbert's body which was reported by his officer to have been buried, appears to have been subsequently lost as his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects to mother Frances, Pension record exists but has no award. 

He is also commemorated on the following War Memorials:

Wallasey Civic Memorial, Mill Lane, Wallasey

Wallasey Roll of Honour

Liverpool Cotton Association Liverpool

Collegiate School, Everton, Liverpool.

Family Trees suggest that his mother Frances died aged 80 in the March quarter of 1943 at Pennbury Farm, Amersham, Bucks.