Pte John William Young - 15th DLI

Another casualty of the German onslaught in the early months of 1918, was John William Young, former member of the Railway Institute. Born in September 1892 at New Shildon, he was the only surviving child of George William Young of Howden-le-Wear and Sarah Ann Mary Williams of Hull, East Yorks, who married in June 1888.

John’s father, George, in 1881 is with his family at 48 Simpson Street, New Shildon. George and his father at this stage are coal mining for a living. Three years after George and Sarah’s marriage, the 1891 census records them at 6 Smeddle Street, which were in fact two small rows of dwellings, half of which practically touched the western end of his previous address, Simpson Street, but were positioned at a right angle to it. Of the 17 houses on Smeddle Street at this point, the majority of the workers living here, understandably, are employed at the wagon works, the remainder are undertaking jobs related to the coal industry. On average there are around four per household, however, George and Sarah Ann are both aged 31 and childless, while the Ruddam family at No. 12 have eleven under their roof. George is currently working as a railway mineral guard for the N.E.R.

Ten years on and the young's are still at 6 Smeddle Street, now their son John William is visible age eight. George's brother Alfred, aged 30, is boarding with them, earning his living as a blacksmith. In 1911 their continued presence at No. 6 Smeddle Street is marked at this point by 23 years of marriage, the couple are also stated as having lost two children. Characteristically, father George retains his job as mineral guard, whilst John William, now aged 18, is also employed at the N.E.R., but as a machinist (drilling).

John William Young enlisted at Bishop Auckland with the 15th DLI, the battalion whose losses were the highest out of all the DLI units during WWI, particularly on the Somme. The 15th DLI were in the 64th Brigade of the 21st Division. On March 21, 1918, when the German Army attacked on the Somme, the 21st Division was in reserve. Rushed forwards to the front, 15 DLI counter attacked, only to be driven back. In the following days of fighting, 15 DLI lost almost 500 men killed, wounded or missing, including the commanding officer killed in action. John was killed in action on March 31, 1918 aged twenty-six. Further fighting in April caused yet more casualties. In late April, the 21st Division was sent to recover near Rheims, but on May 27, it once more faced a massive German attack and was forced to retreat. In two days of fighting, 15 DLI lost over 450 men killed, wounded or missing.

With cruel irony, John’s mother Sarah would become a widow, with the death of her husband George in the same month that her son John was killed. After losing three children and then her husband after nearly 30 years of wedlock, Sarah Ann would now be alone at 6 Smeddle Street. She would not marry again and would pass away at the age of 72 in December 1931.

colin adamson