Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With another man, he rescued two wounded men under heavy fire. Later, he displayed great courage and determination in evacuating wounded, under most trying conditions.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 116
Date: 25 July 1917
 

Military Medal

During the attack on German trenches north of FLERS on morning of 5th November, 1916, this man worked incessantly for 40 hours. He showed a dogged determination in continuing his work, organising parties and getting them down to R.A.P. He searched No Man's Land throughout the hours of daylight on both 5th and 6th November, 1916. He was under heavy shell fire the whole time. He did exceedingly good work at POZIERES on 4th/5th August, 1916.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103
Date: 29 June 1917

William was born on the 13th of July 1894 at Coatbridge Lanarkshire, Scotland. His parents were David Young who was a wine merchant and Agnes. The family migrated to North Adelaide and had his education there. Afterward he took up an apprenticeship with a butcher.

William enlisted on the 3rd of May 1915 in Keswick, South Australia, into the 27th Infantry Battalion. William was nearly 21 years old when he enlisted. William embarked on his military journey on the 24th of June 1915 to Egypt where he trained for 2 months with his Battalion and then left for Gallipoli and arrived on September 12th where he and his Battalion stayed until the evacuation in December. He was promoted to Lance Corporal 22/9/1915.

While at Gallipoli the 27th Battalion suffered only minor casualties. After Gallipoli, they headed to France and fought in the front-line trenches for the first time on the 7th of April 1916 then took part in the first major battle at Pozieres between the dates of the 29th of July and the 5th of August. After this battle, they took a quiet rest in Belgium and then returned and took part in two attacks to the east of Flers in the Somme Valley which both were difficult. William along with the 27th Battalion were the first Australian troops in the Somme Valley. William was promoted again 1/9/16 to temporary Corporal. On 6/11/16 he was promoted to temporay Sergeant which was confirmed as Sergeant on 1/9/17.

The Battalion fought in minor attacks during the withdrawal of the Hindenburg line in early 1917 The Battalion did not carry out any more major attacks until the 20th of September 1917 this fight was part of the 2nd Division’s first wave at the battle of Menin Road. The victory was then again repeated with the capture of Broodsiende Ridge on the 4th of October where the 27th Battalion did play a role. Like the rest of the Australian Battalions. William’s Battalion also helped fight back the German offensive in April 1918. The Battalion’s last effort was to break through the Beaurevoir line in the first week of October 1918. William was wounded on 10/6/1918. He was further promoted to Company Sergeant Major in August 1918.

He was awarded a DCM and MM for bravery and then a Bar to MM. Refer to the AWM records attached for details.

He then stayed in the army until he was discharged on the 21st of June 1919. Coming home from the war he married a woman called Caroline Ivy Freeman in Adelaide on the 21st of May 1921 the couple had two children at went into the butchering business at Minlaton. Although sadly the depression bought failure to the business. The family then moved to Keith where William worked in the labour business. He then obtained a job with the SA railways at Brimbago and Wirrega. He then returned to Adelaide for a job at the Islington railway workshops. William died on the 9th of January 1964 at the age of 70 of natural causes and was buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery.

References

www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). William Ramsey Young. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1581006 [Accessed 30 Nov. 2023].

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