Geoffrey Francis Young . Army 16th Medium Regiment, 107bty. Royal Artillery from Wrexham (d.8th Feb 1945) Geoffery Francis Young was in a reserved occupation as a driver for a local delivery firm in Wrexham and did not have to join, but as many of his mates where already in the forces and being early 1945 the war seemed in its final stages he decided to see out the last stages of the war in uniform. Enlisting in early 1945 he soon found himself as a gunner in 107 Battery, 16th Med Regt (The South Notts. Hussars), Royal Artillery.
By this stage of the war UK forces were seriously depleted with little reserve left to replace 5 years worth of casualties and so within weeks of joining (and according to his letters only receiving only brief on the job training) Geoff was in Holland preparing for "operation veritable" the big push over the Rhine.
Operation Veritable lasted from Feb 8th to March 10th 1945 and was the northern part of the Second World War pincer movement by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group with the objective to clear the land between the Rhine and Roer rivers. General Eisenhower, the Allied Commander, had decided that the best route into Germany would be across the relatively flat lands of northern Europe. This required that Allied forces should close up to the Rhine along its whole length.
Operation Veritable began at 05:00 with an artillery support of over 1000 artillery pieces (not including bofors and anti-tank guns). The initial barrage lasted for over 5 hours with a mixture of destructive firepower on enemy defences interspersed with a build up of smoke to assist the infantry advance.
107 were in constant action throughout the operation but sometime during the 8th of Feb 1945, Geoff as one of a crew of 10 manning a 5.5" gun was positioned somewhere near Kerzenheim on the German border when a USAAF plane mistook them for an enemy position and dropped bombs on their position. Two 5.5 guns were destroyed, 10 men including Geoff were killed and 8 wounded.
Geoffery Francis Young was buried at Uden war cemetery aged 19.
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George Young . British Army Inns of Court Regiment A friend of mine is trying to find out about a battle accident his father, George Young, was involved in on 6th March 1945 whilst serving as part of 11th Armoured Division. The armoured car he was driving in Reichswald Forest, Germany, was hit by friendly fire and he suffered very bad burns. George survived, but never wanted to speak about his experience. Does anyone remember him? Other names I have are Bert Gregory and also Lt J.E.S. (John) Briggs.
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GT Young . British Army GT Young served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte Henry Hynd Young . British Army 8th Pioneer Btn Kings Own Royal Regiment from 13 Churchmead, Frogmore Nr St Albans My dad, Harry Young, died some years ago, but I only recently got sight of his war record. He was captured on 29 April 1940 at Amiens, France and was taken to Stalag XXA, prisoner no. 19412, on 21 July 1940 from a Dulag. He was transferred to Stalag XXB on 1 November 1940 and appears to have stayed there until repatriated. He arrived back in the UK on 19 May 1945. Would be interested to know how he would have spent his time and any photographs would be particularly welcome as he never spoke about his time as a POW apart from mentioning he went on a Death March.
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Pte. Herbert William "Brigham" Young . British Army Seaforth Highlanders from Botley, Hampshire My father, Herbert Young served with the Seaforth Highlanders. He would never tell us anything about what happened.
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Sig. Hugh Young . Royal Navy HMS Fishguard My father-in-law, Hugh Young, of Glasgow was a radio operator and signalman , on HMS Fishguard.
He was later joined on board by his younger brother, James Young.
He told me of a time when they would tow a target barge to sea, known as a drogue, (not sure of the spelling).
A firing officer from a heavier fighting ship would come aboard and direct fire, calling firing corrections through the radio man.
One day, while on drogue duty, they were heading off to sea, when my father-in-law asked where they were picking up the drogue. The officer looked at him with a grin and replied, “you are the drogue” and soon enough, shells were falling around the ship.
When he signed on the ship, the sailor he was replacing, was still aboard, and wasn’t about to give up his hammock. This meant Hugh had to sleep on a table in the galley. He awoke the first night rolling around on the floor with potatoes and canned goods and about an inch of water, due to heavy seas. Not the best way to start a tour!
Hugh moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in the early fifties, his brother Jim moved to Welland, Ontario, Canada. Unfortunatly they have both passed away. Hugh had many great stories about the crew and ship, there was another radio operator he only mentioned as “Ginger” as he had red hair, but I never did get his full name.
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Iris Young . Land Army from Croydon, Surrey My mother Iris Young served in the Womens Land Army from the 9th February 1946 to 19th March 1948, she left to get married, is there anybody out there who remembers her, i am looking for any old photos of my mother when she was in the WLA. Would love to know where she was stationed while she was in the WLA, any stories about her life then. I do know she met my father while they were both in the Army.
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Ord. Seaman J. Young . Royal Navy HMS Forfar J. Young was a survivor of the sinking of HMS Forfar.
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Steward J. Young . Royal Navy HMS Nelson (d.29th Jul 1945)
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J. Young . Royal Air Force 460 Sqd. Sgt Young served as a flight engineer with 460 Sqd.
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CPO. James Young . Royal Navy HMS Fishguard from Scotland St. Glasgow At the beginning of WW2, I remember my eldest brother James studying for examinations for his position in the Royal Navy. I believe he studied ballistics and was a CPO Gunnery. I also believe he transferred early in the war from HMS Manchester to HMS Fishguard where his younger brother Hugh Young was a telegraphist.
James was concerned for the wellbeing of his younger brother at the time of the transfer. I understand that both brothers served in the area of Capetown South Africa for some time during the war.
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Cpl. James Fredrick Young . British Army 2nd Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps (d.23rd May 1940) James Young of the 2nd King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in France during the evacuation at Dunkirk. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. His date of death is given as between 23rd and 26th May 1940.
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Pte. James Young . British Army 5th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment (d.22nd July 1944) I'm trying to find information about my grandfather, Private James Young. He died on 22nd July 1944, and is buried in Hottot-Les-Bagues War Cemetery in France.
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FO. James David Young DFC.. Royal Air Force 10 Squadron from Newcastle, Australia
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PO. James McLean Young . Royal Navy H.M.S. Royal Arthur from Govan, Glasgow This is the class H.M.S.Royal Arthur 214. My father, James Young, was called up 1942. Eventually made PO Articifer on minesweepers UK waters only.
He left the Navy 1946 and died in 1982.
He is standing directly behind life ring in first row in PO uniform and glasses. Photo was dated on rear 25th of October 1942.
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Capt. Jasper Peter Young . British Army 3rd King's Own Hussars Royal Armoured Corps from East Morden, Dorsetshire (d.17th September 1941) Captain Young was the son of Jasper Bertram and Olive Pauline Young of East Morden, Dorsetshire. He was 24 when he died and is buried in the Nicosia British Cemetery in Cyprus, Plot J. Grave 5.
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JJ Young . British Army Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment JJ Young served with the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Trimmer John Moore Young . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Glasgow, Scotland (d.2nd Dec 1940)
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P/O John R.C. Young . Royal Air Force 41 Squadron
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John Young . British Army Royal Engineers I'd be interested to hear from anyone who may have been in the war along with my father, John Young, Royal Engineers. He served in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. His main area of service was on bridges.
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WO John Alfred Young . Royal Air Force 518 Sqdn. from Birmingham My father, Warrant Officer John Alfred Young, was a Halifax II and IV flight engineer serving with 518 Squadron, Royal Air Force based in Tiree, Outer Hebrides.
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F/Lt. John Young MID. Royal Air Force John Young was Station Adjutant at RAF Seletar in Singapore in 1940.
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John George Young . Royal Navy HMS Saker I have a vague list of ships my father, John Young served on in the War from July 1943 until August !946. One of them is HMS Saker from May 1944 until August 1944?. Can anyone verify this?
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Sgt. Joseph William Young MM.. British Army 9th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.14th Jun 1944) Joseph Young was killed in action on 14th of June 1944 whilst serving in Normandy with 9th DLI.
He was the 24 year old son of John and Florence Clara Young of Forest Hall, Northumberland and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
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Kenneth John Young . Royal Air Force from Coleshill I would love to hear what my father, Kenneth Young, did in the war, it was something to do with RAF Engineers and Radar.
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Pte. Kenneth Francis Young . British Army 1st Btn. Royal Hampshire Regiment from Portsmouth, Hampshire (d.6th Jun 1944)
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Gnr. Leonard Douglas Young . British Army 68th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery from Stithians, Cornwall (d.14th Nov 1942) I'½m afraid I don't know much about my dads Uncle Leonard Young. I am currently trying to find out how he died.
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OS Leslie Freeman Young . Royal Navy HMS Glendower from Cleethorps, Grimsby, Lincs
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WO 1 Malcolm Victor Young . British Army Border Regiment
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F/Lt. Mervyn F.S. Young . Royal Air Force 129 Sqn, 72 Sqn from Woking A good friend of mine was based at RAF Hornchurch in 1943 - Flt Lt Mervyn Young of 129 Sqn & later 72 Sqn in Italy & Europe. He flew Spitfire DV-R (Serial No MH384).
Mervyn told me that he was inspired to become a fighter pilot after watching the Howard Hughes Movie Hells Angels about WW1 Fighter pilots. He said his flight commander ‘Wag’ Haw had the same thoughts after seeing the movie.
He flew many missions in Europe including Ram-rod missions in support of the daylight bombing raids, mostly B17’s including the famous Memphis Belle at one time.
On one sortie his No 2 Sgt Carmichael was shot down & killed but in 2003 his aircraft was recovered & in Sept' 2003 Mervyn was among the memorial parade with full miltary honours for Sgt Carmichael; lost on a sortie over Belgium & located 60 years later, the fateful sortie was flown while Mervyn was based at RAF Hornchurch.
Sadly Mervyn passed away in March 2006, I enclose a photo taken at RAF Ibsley in his Spit' DV-R (MH384) complete with his mascot logo of Jiminy Cricket.
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