Pte
William A. Young
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 22/04/1897 |
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Place of birth: Cape North, Nova Scotia, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Bottler |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 415341 |
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Enlistment date: 13/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Woodland Plantation, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXVI Row: A Grave: 11 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Enlistment place | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Young was born in April 1897 in Cape North, Nova Scotia. He worked as a bottler.
In August 1915, at the age of 18, William enlisted in the Canadian Army. After completing his basic training, he embarked for Europe, where he was posted to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles—mounted infantry—were by then fighting exclusively dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
In late October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was once again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive—intended to break through toward the coast—had bogged down into a war of attrition over the high ground east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed unlikely, and although French and Belgian allies openly questioned the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this reality had not yet reached the British High Command. The Canadians were selected to capture the heights around the pulverised village of Passchendaele. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once this slope was secured, Passchendaele could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut across the front; the shallow stream had been transformed by constant shelling into a kilometre-wide swamp. Advancing through the waterlogged valley was almost impossible. In many places, attacks could be carried out by only a single battalion due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the marshy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue fell on 26 October 1917. This position formed the focal point of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passchendaele. The Canadians thus managed to establish themselves on the flank of the ridge.
On 30 October 1917, the advance was renewed. At first light, Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten minutes to six, the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions advanced once more. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue, they pushed further up the spur toward the Goudberg, north of Passchendaele.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. Lying before this height, however, was an almost insurmountable obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the Paddebeek, swollen beyond its banks, flowed. The terrain had been transformed into an impenetrable swamp. At the last moment, it was therefore decided to advance via the ‘slightly’ drier ground around the foul-smelling morass: “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
Even this flanking advance proved extremely difficult. Lacking effective artillery support and struggling through the mud, the mounted infantrymen became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy losses. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with around 600 men; by ten o’clock, half had been killed or wounded. In the afternoon, German counter-attacks threatened to overwhelm the 5th. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to their aid. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were appalling. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
Near the farm on the Bornstraat, just before Woodland Plantation, a German bunker stood in 1917. During the attack of 30 October, the Canadian Army Medical Corps established a dressing station here. The bunker soon became overcrowded and wounded men had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell struck the bunker, killing many wounded and medical personnel instantly. When the battalion was relieved the following day, it had suffered approximately 400 casualties in just a few days.
William Young, only 20 years old, was killed in action on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried at the corner of the Bornstraat and the Wieltjesstraat in front of Plantation Wood, near the battalion’s jumping-off positions. After the war, he was given his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVI, Row A, Grave 11.
In August 1915, at the age of 18, William enlisted in the Canadian Army. After completing his basic training, he embarked for Europe, where he was posted to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles—mounted infantry—were by then fighting exclusively dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
In late October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was once again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive—intended to break through toward the coast—had bogged down into a war of attrition over the high ground east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed unlikely, and although French and Belgian allies openly questioned the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this reality had not yet reached the British High Command. The Canadians were selected to capture the heights around the pulverised village of Passchendaele. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once this slope was secured, Passchendaele could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut across the front; the shallow stream had been transformed by constant shelling into a kilometre-wide swamp. Advancing through the waterlogged valley was almost impossible. In many places, attacks could be carried out by only a single battalion due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the marshy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue fell on 26 October 1917. This position formed the focal point of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passchendaele. The Canadians thus managed to establish themselves on the flank of the ridge.
On 30 October 1917, the advance was renewed. At first light, Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten minutes to six, the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions advanced once more. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue, they pushed further up the spur toward the Goudberg, north of Passchendaele.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. Lying before this height, however, was an almost insurmountable obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the Paddebeek, swollen beyond its banks, flowed. The terrain had been transformed into an impenetrable swamp. At the last moment, it was therefore decided to advance via the ‘slightly’ drier ground around the foul-smelling morass: “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
Even this flanking advance proved extremely difficult. Lacking effective artillery support and struggling through the mud, the mounted infantrymen became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy losses. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with around 600 men; by ten o’clock, half had been killed or wounded. In the afternoon, German counter-attacks threatened to overwhelm the 5th. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to their aid. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were appalling. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
Near the farm on the Bornstraat, just before Woodland Plantation, a German bunker stood in 1917. During the attack of 30 October, the Canadian Army Medical Corps established a dressing station here. The bunker soon became overcrowded and wounded men had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell struck the bunker, killing many wounded and medical personnel instantly. When the battalion was relieved the following day, it had suffered approximately 400 casualties in just a few days.
William Young, only 20 years old, was killed in action on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried at the corner of the Bornstraat and the Wieltjesstraat in front of Plantation Wood, near the battalion’s jumping-off positions. After the war, he was given his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVI, Row A, Grave 11.
Sources 4
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Cook T., Shock Troops: Canadians fighting the Great War 1917-1918. Volume II (Toronto, Penguin Canada, 2008) 345-355. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018) 153-154. Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10667 - 2). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Diaries: 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4949, Microfilm reel number: T-10760, File 473). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/465309 |
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A Street Near You https://astreetnearyou.org/person/465309/ |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/598957 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5803535 |