BORN HULL 1894. SON OF ROBERT YOUNG (1853-1920) & (JANE) ELIZABETH USHER (1858-1938), OF BEAN STREET, HULL. ONE OF SIX CHILDREN. SISTER MARIA, NORA AND MARTHA. HIS BROTHER JOHN ALSO SERVED AND STEP BROTHER, ROBERT WILLIAM USHER DIED IN 1925. THE FAMILY LIVED AT 14, NORMAN TERRACE, CAMPBELL STREET, HULL AND 131, ADELAIDE STREET, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS).
HE WORKED AS A PORTER AT LOFTHOUSE AND SALTONS, CHEMICAL MANUFACTURER. DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 2 INCHES TALL, 33-35 INCH CHEST, NORMAL VISION,
HE ENLISTED IN THE TERRITORIALS, ON 28/03/1911, AS PRIVATE, 1213, 4TH EYR.
HE MARRIED AT HULL, ON 17/01/1916. HIS WIFE, ETHEL GERTRUDE HARRIS (1895-1977), LIVED AT 9 OPEN COURT, ADELAIDE STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS).
HE SERVED IN THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE TERRITORIALS. ARRIVED FRANCE IN 17/04/1915. WOUNDED, BUT REMAINED ON DUTY ON 04/04/1916. DISCIPLINED FOR DRUNKENESS AND CREATING A DISTURBANCE, ON 27/05/1916. KILLED DURING A GAS ATTACK, ON 17/06/1916. BURIED IN BELGIUM.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE RETURNED TO HIS WIDOW ETHEL.
HIS NAME IS ALSO RECORDED ON THE BEAN STREET ROLL OF HONOUR (Hull Daily Mail 11 October 1916).
1/4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment – Map 28 Wytschaete – 17 June 1916, War Diary reads:-
12.25am Enemy released Gas opposite E trenches, the wind at the time was North and rather variable. It blew the gas across the ‘New Cut’ trench E3. E1. E6 trenches. The gas cloud was very thick and lasted about 20 minutes. Few casualties were caused at first, but the after effects proved fatal in several cases, 2nd Lt WF Carlton was killed in F Trench, 2nd Lt Gresham very severely wounded, 2nd Lt Sutton slightly wounded, 2nd Lt WRR Brown and 2nd Lt Marshall were affected by shock and gas and left the trenches.
The Total casualties were, Officers killed 1, wounded 3, other ranks killed 10, wounded 74, missing 1. 5 other ranks of the wounded subsequently died at the dressing station at LINDENHOEK. 2nd Lt GH Lofthouse sick to hospital.
18 June 1916
Quiet day no casualties. 2nd Lt Carlton and 17 other ranks were buried at LINDENHOEK Cemetery, N.27.c. These men were casualties on the 17/06/1916. Six were killed by shellfire, 11 died of gas poisoning. 2 men of the wounded died in hospital and 2 others were buried at LOCRE.
