Pte 36026 Joseph Young

• Age: 30
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Young was born in 1885 in Southport and was the son of Robert Young and his wife Elizabeth (nee Wilcockson) who were married in 1884, this was Elizabeth’s second marriage (formerly Rimmer). 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 36026 when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916, aged 30, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

According to the 20^th Bn War Diary, on 10th October 1916 the battalion marched from Dernancourt via Mametz to Bazentin Le Grand where it bivouacked for the night. The next day the battalion moved up to site for assembly trenches, arriving about 11 p.m., where it dug in two good trenches, Nos.1 and 2 Coys front and Nos.3 and 4 Coys in rear.

From the War Diary:

Near Eaucourt L’Abbaye.  12/10/1916. The 4^th British and 6^th French armies continued the attack. Zero 2.5 p.m.  The whole XVth Corps attacked […]  The attack of 89^th Inf Bde was carried out with 2^nd Bn Bedf Regt on right, 17^th Bn KLR on left, 20^th Bn KLR in support, 19^th Bn KLR in reserve.  Battalions attacked in four waves. On the departure of the attacking battalions Nos. 1 and 2 companies advanced, each in two waves, to garrison the front line trench vacated by 2^nd Bn Bedf Regt on right and 17^th KLR on left. On Nos 1 and 2 Coys vacating front assembly trench, it was occupied by two platoons of Nos. 3 and 4 Coys respectively, from rear assembly trench. As the assaulting waves left their trenches they were met by intense machine gun fire, especially on our left. The enemy also opened heavy barrages on our front support and assembly trenches. […] Capt. H. Beckett, commanding No.1 company, reached the front line with few casualties, but Lieut R.D. Paterson leading No.2 company was killed. His company also had few casualties. The assaulting battalions were held up by very heavy machine gun fire, and made little progress.  […] At 4.20 p.m. two platoons, No.4 Coy, under Cpl Brighouse, were sent up to reinforce the left, and No.3 Coy under Cpl Sutton followed at 4.45 p.m.  Battalion HQ moved up to front line at 4.55 and remaining two platoons of No.4 Coy moved up to join Cpl Brighouse. 

Casualties during action: 

Officers – Killed Lieut. R.D. Paterson, 2^nd Lieut G.L. Grennan, Wounded – 2^nd Lieuts A.E. Griffin, L.E. Mclean Hayes, C. Buttemer, Wounded Cpl g. Brighouse.

Other Ranks killed – 20. 

It had rained incessantly at the beginning of October 1916 and the ground was full of mud. In his book ‘The Liverpool Pals’ Graham Maddocks describes the day Herbert was killed.

It was obvious that the Germans knew an attack was coming and from which direction it would be mounted. On the evening of the 11th the 20th Battalion moved up the line and dug two deep assembly trenches behind the 17th Battalion’s position for the attack the next day. The 19th Battalion also moved into its reserve positions known as Flers Trench. Although the rain has stopped, the ground was like a morass, with all the natural vegetation destroyed, it was difficult to tell exactly where the objectives lay. On the afternoon of the 12th at exactly 2.05pm, the attack began along the whole Corps line, covered by the local batteries of the Royal Field Artillery which still had line of sight. As the whistles blew, the 17th Battalion left its trenches to move forwards, at the same time No.1 and 2 Companies of the 20th Battalion moved forward and occupied the trenches vacated by the 17th. As they too went over the top, No.3 and 4 Companies took their place and waited in their turn to follow. No.2 and 3 Companies of the 19th Battalion moved up to occupy the assembly trenches dug the previous night by the 20th.

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. Those German regiments 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.

Brigadier-General F.C.Stanley wrote that the Battalions were also suffering casualties due to the short shooting of the British heavy artillery fire. “I know from practical experience that they were our own guns which were shooting, and which were causing us quite a considerable number of casualties. The fault lay at that time from the fact that the heavy gunners would not send their FOO’s (Forward Observation Officers) far enough forward, but were content to observe us from right back”

Some ground was gained that day, about 150 yards, the 20th Battalion were not relieved until 24 hours later causing the men to endure another day and night in the front line trench.

His death was reported in the Southport Visiter dated 28^th October 1916:

Private Young was called up in April and went to the front in June. He was the only son of Mr and Mrs Young, Peet's Lane, Churchtown, Prior to joining the forces, Private Young was employed at the Southport G.P.O. as a sorter and stamper. He commenced his association with the Post Office as a boy of fourteen where he became a telegraph boy on leaving school. He was afterwards a parcel packer, and subsequently took up his last occupation. He was about thirty years of age, and a prominent member of St Cuthbert's and Emmanuel Church Choirs.
A letter of sympathy has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Young from the secretary of the local branch of the Postmen's Federation, in which it is stated that "he was one of the best, being a genuine friend one could rely on. The stampers with whom he worked will miss his cheery smile and witty sayings."  

Also in the Southport Visiter 21st November 1916:

Recently we announced the death in action on October 12th of Private Joseph Young of the King's Liverpool Regiment, and of Peet's Lane, Southport, stamper and sorter at Southport G.P.O. Private Young, who was practically the last man out of 70 in this department, to join the Forces, was the first to be killed. His mother has now received the following letter from 2nd Lieut Francis Lawless, commanding the deceased's company, paying a tribute to his memory:-

"British Expeditionary Force, France, 8th November 1916

Dear Mrs Young

I offer you my deepest apologies for my seeming neglect, in not writing before to send you on behalf of the officers, N.C.O.s and men of No 3 Company, our most sincere sympathy in the loos of your son. It was my privilege, during the time I have been on active service with this Battalion, to come in contact with your son on many occasions, and so knowing well his high ideals, his great courage, his devotion to duty, and his cheerful, invigorating personality, I realise with deepest sorrow and regret, that we have lost in him, a brave soldier, and a comrade we will ever mourn and never forget. His loss to you will be a heavy blow. I only pray that the nobility of his end may later on, soften your grief, and make easier the great sacrifice you are called upon to make. Assuring you again of my deepest sympathy - Yours very truly, Francis Lawless, 2nd Lieutenant"

He is also commemorated on the following War Memorials:

Southport Civic Memorial

St Cuthbert’s C. of E. Church, Southport 

Southport Post Office War Memorial

We currently have no further information on Joseph Young, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.