Austin Henry Young

Story:
Austin Henry Young was born on 3rd June 1885 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of Henry Young and Martha Young (née Critchell).  The family lived continuously at 26 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury.  Austin's younger brother Philip James (b.1889) was killed on 28th October 1918 while serving with the Devonshire Regiment in France. Austin enlisted on 7th September 1914 and joined the 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Private (Service No. 2544).  He served in India until he was discharged on 27th April 1915.    Austin re-enlisted on 11th December 1915 and was allotted to the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 22184).   His mother regrettably died in 1915. However he was not embodied until 29th February 1916 when he was instructed to join the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Service No. 27558).  He served with them in France form 14 Jan 1917 and whilst on duty received a severe injury to his foot on 23rd April 1917.  He was eventually transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps on 10th July 1918 and joined the General Headquarters Mechanical Transport Company (Service No. T/419350).  He was demobilized on 23rd August 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals.   On the day of his discharge he applied for the position of Gardener's Labourer at a War Graves Commission site in France but there is no indication that he was successful.  The 1921 Census show him living at 26 Salisbury Street with his widowed father described as a House Painter (out of work) and by the 1939 Register he was still living in Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury, now described as Incapacitated.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, District Registry in 1955 and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 24 Feb 1955.