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Alison
DJB has answered your query about Essex Regiment archives. The Palmer Casualty roll is a very large publication which encompasses the South African Field Force Casualty list and the Natal Field Force Casualty list. It has all the imperfections of the originals and it is a fact that some casualties are not recorded. Some don't like the Palmer roll; I do because it is at hand and very often is useful in resolving a query such as yours. For example, there is no "H.Young" listed as a casualty for the Essex Regiment. If you wish, I can send a copy of the relevant section of the Palmer roll.
In the fog of war, it is possible that a man could serve with another unit on attachment and examples I have seen, where the man became a casualty, the attachment was noted on the medal roll. Again, not infallible. It is also possible that a man could have his forename recorded wrongly on the casualty roll. As a matter of interest, I have an example of a man in the Essex Regiment where his QSA featured a wrong Regimental number and fore-initial! I did check the Essex Regiment South Africa medal roll for any evidence of that in your case. There was no evidence to support a mistake in forename.
So, unless you can tap some family memory about forenames, or find any documentation, letters, etc., it is difficult to take your query much further.
Regards
IL.

Thank you David, according to this picture from the Hatfield, Hertfordshire war memorial in St. Etheldreda's, he was in 2nd battalion, Bedfordshire, and died in the Thaba N'chu battle (or maybe from disease.) I'm just awaiting confirmation from St. E's archivist that that Herbert Young was indeed the son of my great-great grandparents. But working collectively with all of you here, St. E's, and the Hatfield Historical Society, we may have solved the mystery of where he died. I'll have to go visit the site of the battle some day, and see if there is any kind of memorial there.

Thank you so much! Alison

Hi IL,

Thank you for your reply. From St. Etheldreda's ABW memorial in Hatfield, it appears he was in 2nd battalion, Bedfordshire, and died at Thaba N'chu. Do the Palmer roles support that? Or is that what David sent?

Thanks so much, appreciate your help! Alison

Alison
Yes, the Palmer roll supports the fact that 3548 Pte. H.Young of the Bedfordshire Regiment was Killed in Action at Thaba N'chu on 16/11/1900. I posted to that effect on the other topic you initiated (under the heading of "Henry Young Essex Regiment") after Forum member Volunteer discovered the error in the name of his Regiment. The medal roll for the Bedfordshire Regiment is under WO100/176 page 267 in the UK National Archives (accessible on this site); his QSA clasp entitlement was for "Cape Colony" and "Orange Free State", the roll verifies the casualty date and shows his number as 3548.
It is probably better to post any future queries under the topic of "Henry Young, Essex Regiment" . to avoid duplication of effort and any resulting confusion.
Regards
IL.