Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Miltiades’ A28 for Egypt 12.2.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit. 11th Infantry Battalion, 14th Reinf.
Young disembarked with the 11th Battalion. 14th Reinf. in Suez 10.3.1916. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli and a doubling of troops, the AIF reorganized the Battalions so the more experienced soldiers were mixed with new recruits. Young was transferred from 11th Battalion to 51st Battalion 9.4.1916. He joined the BEF at Alexandria and embarked per HT ‘Ivernia’ for France 5.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 12.6.1916. He fought at Pozieres in the Somme Valley. This was the first major action for the 11th Battalion. Young was reported missing in action and then KIA 3.9.1916. He was buried in the vicinity of Thiepval, France, R25d, sheet 51d, by 3rd Cavalry Division Dismounted Party. His body was later exhumed and reinterred at Lesboeufs Guard Cemetery Plot 4 Row M- 4 ½ miles South of Bapaume. Later correspondence from Defence Dept to Young’s sister in 1962, stated that bodies of both brothers (Francis and Frederick) were not recovered. Their names are commemorated at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Cemetery,(M.R.26 Part VI. S-Z.) Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Private, 51st Battalion. 13th Infantry Brigade. AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Both Francis and his brother Frederick William Young were KIA . His eldest brother resided at Albert Street, Bellevue, WA. His Mother’s later address was given as 33 Charles Street, Maylands, WA. Young’s father died during the period of the war.
Photo Western Mail 12.10.1917 p19
           HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P08559.001
           'Gibraltar', a damaged German redoubte at Pozieres 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04588
           Graves at Pozieres 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00998

Information Source
AWM P08559.001. HMAT 'Miltiades'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04588. 'Gibraltar', a damaged German redoubte at Pozieres 1917. Photographer unknown, Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00998.  Australian graves at Pozieres 12 months after the battle, 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll, Francis Henry Young
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455 Young F H


Parker Street, West Guildford, WA.

Associated Images