Major William Hall Young Army Cadet Force and Northumberland Special Constabulary
The Man William Hall Young was born on Thursday 13th September 1906 at 0100h in Homebank, Brigham and Coldstream Road, Eccles, Berwickshire, son of William a Farmer and Mary Jane nee Harris. He was the middle of three children, Janet Ethel born in 1901 and Sarah Frances 1905.
By 1911 the family were still living at Homebank, together with Janet Harris, Mary’s mother and two servants Elizabeth Welsh and Mary Tait Hardie. William senior was not listed at the address.
William junior was educated at Watson’s College, Edinburgh and served in their Officer Training Corps. Following his schooling he worked on the staff of Messrs J and J Cunningham, Grain and Manure Merchants in Berwick and had many and varied interests outside of work. He was a keen sportsman, serving as Captain, Vice-Captain, Secretary, Treasurer and Dance Secretary of the Berwick Amateur Rowing Club, Secretary of Berwick Amateur Swimming Club and Secretary of the King’s Arms Badminton Club. He was also a member of Berwick and District Amateur Operatic Society, appearing as Pierre, a Porter in their production of ‘Kantinka’ in 1932, when he was described as “a great success”. He was also an ‘elder’ of Wallace Green Church where he had worshipped for many years.
In 1928 William joined the Northern Command, Northumberland County Army Cadet Force as a Colour Quartermaster Sergeant and was living at 45 St Albans Road, Edinburgh with his mother. In 1931 he was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain in 1937. In 1938 he was appointed as a Berwick Harbourmaster Commissioner, later becoming their chairman. He was also appointed Hon Secretary of the Northumberland County Cadet Committee and Cadet Staff Captain and Adjutant 1st Battalion.
On Monday 21st April 1939 aged 32 William married Alice Kennedy a ‘Clerkess’, at the Old Parish Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh according the forms of the Church of Scotland, the service was conducted by the Reverend Oswald B.Milligan and John Mosgrove was best man.
In 1940, following the outbreak World War II on 3rd September the previous year, William also joined the Northumberland Special Constabulary, serving throughout the war as well as in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers ACF. In 1942 he was promoted to Major and in 1943 aged 37, qualified for the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
On 25th November 1942, he was formally appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, Special List for service with the Army Cadet Force with service number 238760 appearing in In the London Gazette of 27th July 1943. In 1944 he was awarded the Army Cadet Force Long Service Badge; the Cadet Forces Medal not being instituted until 1950.
Following the war William was awarded the Defence Medal and at a ceremony in March 1950 presented with his SCLS medal by Chief Constable F J Armstrong at the Berwick Division, Northumberland Constabulary annual dinner in the Masonic Hall, Berwick. He was among 37 officers to receive the medal or clasps. This was followed by the award of the Cadet Forces Medal and clasp in the London Gazette of 29th June 1951.
In the London Gazette of 4th September 1951, he was transferred from the TA Reserve of Officers Special List, specifically to the Army Cadet Force with seniority backdated to 25th November 1942 in Northumberland Command.
By now, William was working for Scottish Agricultural Industries Ltd based at Bridgend and was promoted to area Manager in February 1954, leaving Berwick and relinquishing his Commission in the ACF on 12th October 1955 aged 50. He continued serving in the Special Constabulary receiving a long service clasp in 1951 and 1963, the latter when he was aged 54.
No detail is known about William’s later life except that he died in 1978 aged 72 at Morningside, Edinburgh.
By 1911 the family were still living at Homebank, together with Janet Harris, Mary’s mother and two servants Elizabeth Welsh and Mary Tait Hardie. William senior was not listed at the address.
William junior was educated at Watson’s College, Edinburgh and served in their Officer Training Corps. Following his schooling he worked on the staff of Messrs J and J Cunningham, Grain and Manure Merchants in Berwick and had many and varied interests outside of work. He was a keen sportsman, serving as Captain, Vice-Captain, Secretary, Treasurer and Dance Secretary of the Berwick Amateur Rowing Club, Secretary of Berwick Amateur Swimming Club and Secretary of the King’s Arms Badminton Club. He was also a member of Berwick and District Amateur Operatic Society, appearing as Pierre, a Porter in their production of ‘Kantinka’ in 1932, when he was described as “a great success”. He was also an ‘elder’ of Wallace Green Church where he had worshipped for many years.
In 1928 William joined the Northern Command, Northumberland County Army Cadet Force as a Colour Quartermaster Sergeant and was living at 45 St Albans Road, Edinburgh with his mother. In 1931 he was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain in 1937. In 1938 he was appointed as a Berwick Harbourmaster Commissioner, later becoming their chairman. He was also appointed Hon Secretary of the Northumberland County Cadet Committee and Cadet Staff Captain and Adjutant 1st Battalion.
On Monday 21st April 1939 aged 32 William married Alice Kennedy a ‘Clerkess’, at the Old Parish Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh according the forms of the Church of Scotland, the service was conducted by the Reverend Oswald B.Milligan and John Mosgrove was best man.
In 1940, following the outbreak World War II on 3rd September the previous year, William also joined the Northumberland Special Constabulary, serving throughout the war as well as in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers ACF. In 1942 he was promoted to Major and in 1943 aged 37, qualified for the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.
On 25th November 1942, he was formally appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, Special List for service with the Army Cadet Force with service number 238760 appearing in In the London Gazette of 27th July 1943. In 1944 he was awarded the Army Cadet Force Long Service Badge; the Cadet Forces Medal not being instituted until 1950.
Following the war William was awarded the Defence Medal and at a ceremony in March 1950 presented with his SCLS medal by Chief Constable F J Armstrong at the Berwick Division, Northumberland Constabulary annual dinner in the Masonic Hall, Berwick. He was among 37 officers to receive the medal or clasps. This was followed by the award of the Cadet Forces Medal and clasp in the London Gazette of 29th June 1951.
In the London Gazette of 4th September 1951, he was transferred from the TA Reserve of Officers Special List, specifically to the Army Cadet Force with seniority backdated to 25th November 1942 in Northumberland Command.
By now, William was working for Scottish Agricultural Industries Ltd based at Bridgend and was promoted to area Manager in February 1954, leaving Berwick and relinquishing his Commission in the ACF on 12th October 1955 aged 50. He continued serving in the Special Constabulary receiving a long service clasp in 1951 and 1963, the latter when he was aged 54.
No detail is known about William’s later life except that he died in 1978 aged 72 at Morningside, Edinburgh.
Naming on William Hall Young's medals
The Story The medal trio awarded to William Hall Young were acquired from E-Bay on 29th September 2022 and of interest because of the Cadet Forces and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and clasps combination. The Cadet Forces Medal interestingly being named to him as ‘Cadet Captain’.
The vendor provided several downloaded newspaper cuttings that, together with Scotland’s People and the London Gazette enabled a quite detailed biography to be compiled, although sadly little on his later life.
An interesting group to a man who seems to have been involved in so much within his local community in Berwick.
The vendor provided several downloaded newspaper cuttings that, together with Scotland’s People and the London Gazette enabled a quite detailed biography to be compiled, although sadly little on his later life.
An interesting group to a man who seems to have been involved in so much within his local community in Berwick.
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded..
- Cadet Forces Medal: CADET. CAPT.W.H.YOUNG
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: WILLIAM H.YOUNG
Page last updated 24 Dec 13
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