Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

William Young was born in Scampston, Yorkshire on 9 April 1879. He married Mary Wragg on 5 October 1907, in Wortley in the West Riding of Yorkshire and their daughter Amy was born on 5 February 1908 in Ripon.  In 1911, they were living at The Grove, Barnby Dun, near Doncaster, and William (31) was listed as a gardener.

He attested on 7 December 1915, at the age of 36 years and 8 months into the Royal Garrison Artillery and was mobilised on 30 June 1916.  He was posted to No 4 Depot Royal Garrison Artillery at Great Yarmouth on 4 July 1916, and was probably on his way there when he passed through Peterborough East Station on 3 July 1916.  He served in France from 31 March 1917 until 23 October 1917, when he was injured by a gunshot wound and repatriated to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, near Southampton and was later transferred to the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.  On 17 July 1918, he was pronounced “no longer physically fit for war service” and sent home to await discharge on 7 August 1918. He was given a £1 advance, a suit of plain clothes, an overcoat and was awarded a weekly pension of 27/6 per week from 8 August 1918.  His service record states that he was a steady, intelligent man of good character.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge, British War and Allied Victory Medals.

In the 1939 Register, William and Mary were living at 57 Council Estate, Doncaster and was listed as a working men’s club steward.

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