Officer casualties, surname X - Z

Yeatherd, Major Ernest Walter, 2nd in command, 2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

He died at the Base Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, February 26th, 1900, of wounds received in action in the operations on the Tugela four days previously.  He was born in March 1852, and entered the 4th Foot November 1872, being promoted Captain October 1881, and Major February 1892.  He was DAA and Quartermaster General, Dublin District, from March 1885 to May 1887, and DAAG, Hong Kong, from June 1887 to April 1890.  Major Yeatherd accompanied his battalion to South Africa in November 1899, and served with the Natal Field Force in the fighting on the Tugela.

Yockney Captain T, Imperial Light Horse

He was killed in action at Naauwpoort, January 5th, 1901.  Captain Yockney had seen much service during the war.  He was in the fighting at Frederickstad in October 1900, when the town was invested by De Wet, and on the 25th took part in the attack on the Boers.  Sir A Conan Doyle refers to an incident in this fight "A small party of Imperial Light Horse, gallantly led by Captain Yockney, came to close quarters with a group of Boers.  Five of the enemy having held up their hands, Yockney passed them, and pushed on against their comrades.  On this the prisoners seized their rifles once more and fired upon their captors.  A fierce fight ensued with only a few feet between the muzzles of the rifles".  Eight Boers were captured, and of these, three were shot next day for having resumed their weapons after surrender.

Young, Captain Edward Gordon, Royal Engineers

He died of enteric at Kimberley, June 5th, 1900.  He was the son of H L Young, was born in February 1868, and educated at Haileybury.  He entered the Royal Engineers in July 1886, was promoted Captain in February 1897, and went to South Africa in January 1900.  He married Isabella Maude, second daughter of C P Allix.

Young, Lieutenant Edward Maule, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers

He died of wounds received in action near Brandfort, ORC, March 29th, 1900.  He was born in July 1870, and educated at Cheltenham.  He entered the King's Own Scottish Borderers in January 1891, being promoted Lieutenant March 1893, and proceeded to South Africa with his regiment in December 1899, and was present at Paardeberg and the advance to Bloemfontein, then moving to the north to Brandfort, where he fell.  His name was inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War Memorial at Cheltenham College.

Young, Major Norman Edward, DSO, Royal Field Artillery

Died of enteric at Bloemfontein, 26 February 1902.  He was the eldest son of Major General C M Young, RA, was born in October 1862, and educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho.  He entered the Royal Artillery from the Royal Military Academy in July 1882, was promoted Captain May 1891, brevet Major November 1896, and Major January 1900.  He served with the expedition to Dongola in 1896, taking part in the operations of June 7th and September I9th, being mentioned in despatches November 3rd, 1896, and received the brevet of Major and the Egyptian medal with two clasps.  He took part in the Nile Expedition, 1897, and was present at the action of Abu Hamed, being mentioned in despatches, January 25th, 1898, and receiving two clasps to the Egyptian medal.  He also served in the Nile Expedition 1898, and took part in the cavalry reconnaissance of March 30th, and the battles of the Atbara and Omdurman, being mentioned in despatches, September 30th, 1898, and was awarded the DSO, the Fourth Class of the Order of the Osmanieh, the medal, and two clasps to the Egyptian medal.  Major Young went to South Africa in 1899 with the special ammunition column under Major May and took part in Lieutenant General Lord Methuen's advance and the action at Magersfontein and was present at Paardeberg and the capture of Cronje.  When promoted Major he was posted to the 75th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, which he commanded till December 1901, and then became staff officer to Colonel Dunlop's column of Royal Artillery Mounted Rifles, which post he held at the time of his death.  When taken ill, he was first sent to Heilbron and thence to Bloemfontein, where he died.  He was mentioned in despatches, LG, April 19th, 1901. His name was inscribed on a memorial tablet in the United Services College at Westward Ho.

See his DSO entry.

Younger, Captain David Reginald, VC, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders

He was killed in action at Doornboschfontein, near Krugersdorp, June 11th, 1900.  He was the eldest son of David Younger and cousin of William Younger, MP of Auchen Castle, Dumfries.  Captain Younger was born in March 1871, and educated at St Ninians School, Moffat, Dumfriesshire and at Malvern College.  He entered the Gordon Highlanders from the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Edinburgh Artillery in December 1893, being promoted Lieutenant November 1896, and Captain December 1899.  He served with the Chitral Relief Force under Sir Robert Low in 1895, with the 1st battalion of his regiment, and took part in the storming of the Malakand Pass, receiving the medal with clasp.  He next saw service in the North-West Frontier of India campaign, 1897-98, under Sir William Lockhart, taking part in the operations in the Maidan and Bara Valleys, and receiving two clasps.  Captain Younger proceeded to South Africa with his regiment in October 1899, and joining the Kimberley Relief Force, was present at the battle of Magersfontein, and took part in the subsequent advance into ORC and the Transvaal.  In the action in which he was killed he took out a party and successfully dragged a Royal Artillery wagon under cover though exposed to a heavy fire.  He then accompanied a second party to bring in a gun, but in this attempt he was mortally wounded and died shortly afterwards.  His cool and gallant conduct is stated to have been the admiration of all who witnessed it.  For his bravery he was awarded the VC, LG September 28th, 1900, and it was announced in the LG, August 8th, 1902, that His Majesty the King had been graciously pleased to approve of the decoration being delivered to the representative of Captain Younger.  He had been previously mentioned in despatches, LG, February 8th, 1901, for his services and having distinguished himself during the operations between February 28th and March 13th, 1900.  When Captain Younger was lying mortally wounded, exposed to a terrific fire, Corporal McKay went out alone and carried him to a place of safety and for this act Corporal McKay was awarded the VC.  Captain Younger was buried in the cemetery at Krugersdorp, and a marble cross was erected over his grave by his brother officers.

See his VC entry.

Younger, 2nd Lieutenant Edward John, 16th Lancers

He was killed in action between Clanwilliam and Calvinia, 23 December 1901.  He was the second son of George Younger of Valleyfield, Culross, Fife, was born in July 1882, and educated at Harrow.  He entered the 16th Lancers in August 1900, and proceeded to South Africa, January 1901, and served with his regiment in Cape and Orange River Colonies.  The day he was killed 2nd Lieutenant Younger behaved with great gallantry.  The Boers had attacked a convoy with much determination on December 22nd but had been driven off.  The next day, however, being most anxious to get supplies, they renewed the attack, and had taken possession of a ridge commanding the line of advance of the convoy.  The 16th Lancers detachment charged with great dash and compelled them to retreat.  It was in this charge that 2nd Lieutenant Younger "while gallantly leading his men" was mortally wounded, dying almost immediately.  He was buried close to where he fell.  A chancel screen, a brass tablet in a slab of granite, and a stained glass window were erected to his memory in St John's Church, Alloa.  The tablet bears the inscription: "In loving memory of 2nd Lieutenant E J Younger, 16th Queen's Lancers, killed in action near Calvinia, Cape Colony, on December 23rd, 1901, in his twentieth year.  Erected by his Brother Officers".