Private Percy Young 1st Battalion London Regiment Royal Fusiliers
1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal
The Man The only detail available on Percy Young is that he enlisted into the 1st Battalion London Regiment of the Royal Artillery and saw action on the Western Front during World War I. He died of wounds on 17th June 1917 at number 45 Casualty Clearing Station, leaving 32 19s and 10d and is buried in grave 1.L.19 Achiet-Le-Grand communal cemetery in France.
The Story The single, badly damaged, British War Medal awarded to Percy Young was acquired from E-Bay on 19th July 2015. The naming around the rim has either worn away or an attempt made to do so, leaving just sufficient detail to determine Percy’s details. There was no suspender and a hole had been drilled in the medal in order that it could be worn as a necklace. The medal was acquired as it was bittersweet to think that someone who had given his life fighting for his country in the Great War would be remembered with only a barely readable disc of damaged silver that could easily be heading for the melting pot. The decision was taken to have medal repaired as best as possible, the hole was plugged, a new suspender added and an erased Victory Medal acquired to make up Percy’s full entitlement. Sadly little detail could be found on Ancestry.UK except for his Medal Index Card, Soldiers Effects and the Commonwealth War Grave Certificate. A small but important testimony to one of the many brave young men who gave their life during 1914-18.
The Story The single, badly damaged, British War Medal awarded to Percy Young was acquired from E-Bay on 19th July 2015. The naming around the rim has either worn away or an attempt made to do so, leaving just sufficient detail to determine Percy’s details. There was no suspender and a hole had been drilled in the medal in order that it could be worn as a necklace. The medal was acquired as it was bittersweet to think that someone who had given his life fighting for his country in the Great War would be remembered with only a barely readable disc of damaged silver that could easily be heading for the melting pot. The decision was taken to have medal repaired as best as possible, the hole was plugged, a new suspender added and an erased Victory Medal acquired to make up Percy’s full entitlement. Sadly little detail could be found on Ancestry.UK except for his Medal Index Card, Soldiers Effects and the Commonwealth War Grave Certificate. A small but important testimony to one of the many brave young men who gave their life during 1914-18.
This group of medals is one I have only found limited detail on. They are in effect 'work in progress' as one day something additional may well be uncovered. Please feel free to contact me should you know of, or have any information on this man.
As the medal came
Percy Young's World War I Medal Index Card
Medal Details
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 8720. PTE. P.YOUNG.1 LOND R.A.
- Victory Medal: Erased.
Page last updated 24 Dec 15
15
