Sergent Alexander Jeffard Young
Service #: 2690
Summary
PERSONAL LIFE
Alexander Jeffard Young was born on 7th June 1893 in Nerang, Qld, son of Cornelius Charles Young & Elizabeth Ann (Price) Young. One of brothers, Frederick, enlisted and died at Gallipoli in May 1915, another, Bernard, returned to Australia in 1916 and another, Ivor, signed up but had his enlistment cancelled as he was under-age.
Arriving on the Tweed in 1901 after mother Elizabeth Young fled her husband, Mr Young (second youngest) and his eight siblings found their place on River St, South Murwillumbah, before playing an integral part in the blossoming community.
Extract from granddaughter, Alice Jackson, notes
"They were a well-known family in the Tweed District and he had a great affection for the Tweed," Mrs Jackson said.
"He did his apprenticeship with AJ Stumm as a monoline operator at Murwillumbah and he was also one time attached to the mechanical staff of the Tweed Herald."
His next of kin was his mother, E A young, of River St, South Murwillumbah and he had been in the 9 Battalion militia
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
OATH
On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Alexander Jeffard Young, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical was conducted at Fraser’s Hill Training Camp & showed he was 5ft 10 ½ inches tall (1.79m), weighed 147 lbs (67kgs), with a fresh complexion, grey eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. Alexander was Church of England
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description
He certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He accordingly approves, and appointed him to 8th reinforcement of the 9th Battalion with service No 2690
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, Alexander trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches, and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE APRIL 1915
During his training, Alexander was hospitalised with venereal disease. This was some time in April and he was placed in an isolation ward. Treatment for venereal disease in the Australian Imperial Force during WWI primarily involved hospitalisation, strict rest, and medical therapies available at the time. Soldiers were often treated with salvarsan (an arsenic-based compound) or mercury-based preparations, which were administered by injection or topical application. These treatments aimed to cure the infection, but could be uncomfortable and required careful monitoring due to side effects. In addition to drug therapy, patients were given regular medical inspections, hygiene instruction, and restrictions on activity until fully recovered. Lengthy stays in hospital—often several weeks or months—were common, as doctors ensured soldiers were no longer infectious and fit to return to duty
AWOL FROM ISOLATON WARD APRIL 1915
When Staff Sergeant Christie & Acting Sergeant Wakefield called the roll at 8pm on 15th April 1915 in the isolation war of the Field Hospital, Enoggera Barracks, they found 16 men absent. The accused men were arrested and held in custody until tried by Court Martial, held on 27th-29th April 1915
COURT MARTIAL APRIL 1915
Military Forces of the Commonwealth, 1st Military district
Districts Orders by Colonel George L Lee, DSO, Commanding the Commonwealth Military Forces in 1st Military District
District Headquarters, Brisbane
Tuesday 27th April 19
No 20
The officers mentioned below will constitute a Standing District Court Martial, and will assemble at such times & places, as may be appointed by the President to try such members of the Australian Imperial Force as may be brought before it: -
President Major R C Groome, Australia Garrison Artillery, is appointed President.
MEMBERS:
APPOINTED MEMBERS
Lieutenant C J W Weavers, Royal Artillery Garrison Artillery
Lieutenant W G Penrose, A & I staff (temporary)
APPOINTED WAITING MEMBERS
2/Lieut E J Didbin, A & I staff (temporary)
2/Lieut H F W Palmer, A & I staff (temporary)
Lieutenant H W C McBride, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery is appointed prosecutor
The accused persons will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend
The proceedings will be forwarded to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 1st military division
District Order No7 of 1915 is hereby cancelled
THE CHARGES
Absenting himself without leave in that he, at Enoggera, on 15th April 1915, without leave lawfully granted, absented himself from the Isolation Ward of the Field Hospital at the Camp of the A I F ay Enoggera
Breaking out of barracks in that he, at Enoggera, on the 15th April, 1915 broke out of the isolation ward of the Field Hospital of the Australian Infantry Force at Enoggera, wherein he was confined, without permission to leave, being a patient suffering from venereal disease
PROCEEDINGS ON PLEA OF GUILTY
Alexander pleaded guilty and, in his defence, he wrote a brief statement explaining his reasons. He stated that he was a member of the 15th Reinforcements, which had left Australia on 16 April 1915, and that he had lent money to other soldiers and wished to see friends in the company, including a schoolmate he had brought into the unit. Feeling it unfair that he could not collect his money or speak to his friends, he asked the Sergeant Major for leave twice and was refused — prompting him to leave the hospital regardless. He attended court on an ambulance stretcher
CAMP DOCTOR REPORT
The camp doctor certified that “Alexander was in a bad state of health and unable to undergo imprisonment”
GUILTY AS CHARGED
He was found guilty of all charges. Nevertheless, he was allowed to continue his training and left for Egypt in August 1915
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO EGYPT
On the 16th August 1915 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyarra
Alongside his comrades, Alexander marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
Sleeping & Living Arrangements
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
Daily Routine
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
Meals
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
Health & Sanitation
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
The Voyage Experience
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.
APPROACHING EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.
EGYPT NOVEMBER 1915
Disembarking in Egypt, he was sent to one of the great Australian camps on the outskirts of Cairo — probably Zeitoun or Heliopolis — where new arrivals were fitted out for active service. Here he spent the closing weeks of October and early November in the dusty training grounds of the desert, undergoing musketry practice, bayonet fighting drills, and long marches beneath the Egyptian sun. The Gallipoli campaign was still in progress, and the men believed they would soon be sent forward as reinforcements.
Orders finally came through in mid-November. Alexander’s draft was moved by train to Alexandria, where they boarded a smaller transport bound for Mudros Harbour on the island of Lemnos — the great forward base for the Dardanelles. On 18 November 1915, Alexander was officially taken on strength of the 9th Battalion at Mudros. The fighting on the Peninsula was winding down, but for now the reinforcements remained at Lemnos, preparing in case another call came.
PROMOTION TO CORPORAL — 4 DECEMBER 1915
When Alexander was officially taken on strength with the 9th Battalion at Mudros on 18 November 1915, the Gallipoli campaign was nearing its end. The battalion had been worn thin by months of fighting and sickness. Many of its original NCOs (corporals and sergeants) had been killed, evacuated sick, or transferred to hospitals in Egypt. Reinforcements arriving at Lemnos found their battalion headquarters trying to rebuild the unit’s structure even as the men on Gallipoli held the line for the final withdrawal.
Because of this, capable reinforcements were quickly assessed for leadership potential. Even though Alexander was a newcomer to the battalion, he had probably shown reliability and steadiness during his voyage and training in Egypt. The officers in charge of the reinforcement drafts often kept notes on men who showed discipline, literacy, or maturity — qualities vital for non-commissioned officers.
Once he reached Mudros and joined the 9th Battalion’s base depot, he likely found himself among a mix of veterans returning from hospital and new men just off the transports. The battalion’s adjutant and senior NCOs would have needed trustworthy men to help with routine duties — supervising fatigue parties, managing stores, and maintaining order among the reinforcements. It was here, most likely, that Alexander proved himself.
PROMOTED TO CORPORAL DECEMBER 1915
Thus, on 4 December 1915, he was promoted to Corporal, probably while still on Lemnos. This would have been a temporary or acting promotion, filling one of the many NCO vacancies caused by losses on Gallipoli. It is also possible he never made it to the Peninsula at all — many reinforcements at Mudros were retained there to reorganise for the coming evacuation.
In short, his promotion shows:
· He was considered a dependable and capable soldier within weeks of joining his unit.
· The battalion urgently needed experienced hands to restore structure and discipline.
· He was very likely involved in support and reorganisation duties at Mudros, not front-line fighting.
FROM MUDROS TO FRANCE — 1916
When the last Australian troops withdrew from Gallipoli in December 1915, Alexander was still stationed on Lemnos, part of the reinforcement and support echelon at Mudros. His new rank of Corporal, granted on 4 December, placed him among the non-commissioned officers charged with maintaining order during those tense final weeks. The weather was bitterly cold, the camps muddy and disease-ridden, and everyone knew the campaign was ending.
BACK TO EGYPT JANUARY 1916
On 4 January 1916, Alexander embarked aboard the transport SS Grampian, sailing from Mudros back to Alexandria. The Australian divisions were being reassembled and reinforced in Egypt — a vast reorganisation that would reshape the AIF for the Western Front. When he disembarked at Alexandria a few days later, he found himself among thousands of men returning from the islands and the Peninsula, all camped in the Egyptian desert awaiting their next orders.
PROMOTION TO SERGEANT MARCH 1916
Alexander was posted to Serapeum, a camp on the Suez Canal near Ismailia, where the reconstituted 1st Australian Division trained through the early months of 1916. The desert stretched endlessly around the camp, and the men drilled in the heat, practised entrenching, and carried out long marches across the sand. It was here, amid this period of rebuilding, that Alexander’s leadership was again recognised: on 12 March 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant.
The promotion reflected the steady manner he had shown since joining the battalion. With so many experienced NCOs lost during the Gallipoli campaign, men like Alexander — disciplined, reliable, and capable of leading by example — became vital to the battalion’s future. He would now have been responsible for a section of men, handling their training, discipline, and welfare.
FRANCE APRIL TO AUGUST 1916
Only two weeks later, the next chapter began. Orders came for the 9th Battalion to move to France with the rest of the Australian Imperial Force. On 27 March 1916, Alexander embarked at Alexandria, part of the first great movement of Australians to the Western Front. His ship crossed the Mediterranean and entered the port of Marseilles on 3 April 1916, where the men disembarked to the sound of cheering French crowds and the chill of a European spring. From the burning sands of Egypt to the green fields of France — the war for Alexander Jeffard Young was about to enter its hardest and most enduring phase.
After landing at Marseilles on 3 April 1916, Alexander and the 9th Battalion travelled north by train through the length of France — a journey that took three days and nights in cramped, open wagons marked “Hommes 40, Chevaux 8” (“40 men or 8 horses”). They eventually reached Steenbecque in northern France, and from there marched to billets near the front lines in the Armentières sector.
This was the Australians’ first experience of the Western Front: a maze of trenches, mud, and wire, punctuated by shell bursts and the ceaseless rattle of machine-gun fire. Compared to Gallipoli’s rugged slopes, the flat, waterlogged fields of Flanders presented new challenges — cold, lice, and constant damp. As a sergeant, Alexander’s responsibilities were heavy. He supervised his section’s work in the trenches, ensured the men kept their rifles clean and their rations fair, and maintained discipline during the long, weary rotations between front-line and rest billets.
By June, the 9th Battalion had settled into a routine of trench warfare. Casualties were frequent, though the sector was considered “quiet” by Western Front standards. The men carried out nightly patrols into No Man’s Land, repaired parapets shattered by shellfire, and endured the unending strain of bombardment and fatigue.
Through July, preparations were under way for the Australians’ first major action on the Western Front — the Battle of Pozières, part of the Somme offensive further south. Units from the 1st Australian Division, including the 9th Battalion, were warned they would soon be moving into that inferno.
HOSPITALISED PYREXIA AUGUST 1916
However, before Alexander could take part, illness intervened. The record shows that on 5 August 1916 he was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance with “pyrexia” — fever of unknown origin. This term was commonly used for ailments brought on by exhaustion, trench fever, or other infections endemic to front-line service. Conditions in the trenches were filthy and disease-ridden, and a bout of fever could lay a man low for weeks. He was evacuated from the front to a Casualty Clearing Station, then to a base hospital — the beginning of a long sequence of medical and administrative notations you see on the form.
ILLNESS AND RECOVERY — AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 1916
The record shows that on 5 August 1916, Alexander was admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance in France suffering from pyrexia of unknown origin — the official term for a high, persistent fever without a clearly diagnosed cause. In the trenches of northern France, it could have meant any number of things: trench fever carried by lice, influenza, dysentery, or simple exhaustion after months of front-line duty.
From the 3rd Field Ambulance, he was transferred on 11 August to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station at Étaples, and then further back to a Base Hospital at Boulogne on 9 September 1916. The move from field unit to base hospital shows his condition had not improved quickly. Étaples was a vast medical and reinforcement hub on the Channel coast, packed with hospitals, convalescent camps, and training depots. Men from every front of the British Army passed through it.
At Boulogne he was placed under the care of the Australian General Hospital, which specialised in treating Australian troops evacuated from the line. The medical staff there dealt daily with everything from trench foot to shell shock and infectious fevers. For Alexander, the hospital stay would have meant proper food, a clean bed, and the first real rest he had had since arriving in France.
REJOINED UNIT SEPTEMBER 1916
By late August, his condition had improved enough for him to be marked fit for duty. On 22 September 1916, the record notes that he rejoined the 9th Battalion in the field, having been away for just over six weeks. The battalion by then had come through the brutal fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, suffering heavy losses. Alexander’s return would have been a welcome one; experienced NCOs were in short supply, and replacements were often raw and inexperienced.
His brief illness and recovery were typical of the strain endured by the men on the Western Front. Constant damp, lice infestation, poor food, and the unending pressure of artillery fire wore even the strongest soldiers down. The fact that he returned to duty so quickly — and resumed his role as sergeant — speaks to his resilience and his sense of duty to his men.
1917 — FROM THE TRENCHES TO THE TRAINING GROUNDS
After rejoining the 9th Battalion in late September 1916, Alexander found the unit recovering from the terrible ordeal of the Somme battles. The men were now billeted near Flers and later at Bazentin, enduring another wet, freezing winter on the Western Front. The trenches collapsed under rain, mud froze on boots, and food often arrived cold and waterlogged. For a sergeant like Alexander, the demands were endless — ensuring his section stayed alert and disciplined, keeping weapons serviceable, and guiding new drafts who had never before faced the conditions of France.
TRANSFER TO 3RD PIONEER BATTALION
By early 1917, the Germans began withdrawing to the fortified Hindenburg Line, and the Australian divisions followed in pursuit. It was a period of cautious advance and rebuilding. On 11 May 1917, Alexander’s record notes that he was transferred from the 9th Battalion to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, then operating in the field.
This transfer was significant. The Pioneer Battalions combined infantry and engineering skills — digging trenches, building roads, and constructing strongpoints often under fire. Only experienced, capable men were chosen, particularly NCOs who could supervise both combat and labour details. His new unit’s work was dangerous and physically demanding, carried out close to the front lines where artillery fire was constant.
COMMAND SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL AND BAYONET TRAINING MAY 1917
Just a week later, on 18 May 1917, he left France for England, sent to attend a course of instruction at the Command School of Physical and Bayonet Training at Tidworth. This was one of the British Army’s premier training establishments, responsible for producing instructors who could return to their units and teach modern bayonet fighting and physical conditioning.
The notes on his service record are wonderfully detailed:
“Sgt. attended a course of instruction at the Command School of Physical & Bayonet Training, Tidworth, from 25/5/17 to 9/6/17. Qualified as a ‘Regimental Instructor’.”
This qualification was no small achievement. It meant Alexander had demonstrated not only proficiency but also the ability to teach others — to organise and drill troops, to maintain high physical standards, and to pass on the aggressive, disciplined fighting spirit considered essential on the Western Front.
After the course, he returned to France, where his experience was likely used for training new drafts and leading men in the field. For a soldier who had started as a private in 1915, his steady promotions and selection for specialised instruction show the deep trust his superiors placed in him.
CONTINUED SERVICE AND FURTHER TRAINING — AUGUST TO NOVEMBER 1917
After qualifying as a Regimental Instructor in Physical and Bayonet Training in June 1917, Sergeant Alexander Jeffard Young remained in England for several months, passing on his new skills to other soldiers preparing for the front. The Casualty Form records that on 6 August 1917, he was attached for duty at Command Headquarters, Durrington, near Salisbury Plain — one of the key Australian training and reinforcement camps. His role there was as an instructor, training men in the tough, close-quarters bayonet fighting and physical fitness routines that had become essential parts of a soldier’s preparation.
These appointments were given only to men who had proved themselves steady, competent, and capable of handling authority. Alexander would have drilled large numbers of new reinforcements — men who were about to face the Western Front for the first time — pushing them through the exhausting bayonet courses designed to build aggression and endurance.
36TH ARMY PHYSICAL AND BAYONET TRAINING COURSE SEPTEMBER 1917
The next entry, 29 September 1917, shows him attending the 36th Army Physical and Bayonet Training Course at Aldershot, running from 6 to 12 September 1917, where he furthered his qualification. Aldershot was the British Army’s premier training centre, so this indicates he was now among the most highly trained NCOs in this specialty within the AIF.
TRANSFER TO 12TH TRAINING BATTALION NOVEMBER 1917
Following this, on 11 November 1917, Alexander was transferred from the 3rd Pioneers to the 12th Training Battalion at Sutton Veny, another major Australian base on Salisbury Plain. This move suggests he had been kept in England for instructional duty, rather than being sent immediately back to France. His experience, combined with his certifications from Tidworth and Aldershot, made him far more valuable as an instructor than as another sergeant in the trenches.
In essence, by the end of 1917 Alexander had transitioned from field service to a critical training and leadership role within the AIF’s reinforcement system. His work ensured that the thousands of young Australians arriving in England received the best possible preparation before joining their battalions in France and Belgium.
RETURN TO FRANCE JANUARY 1918
After a period in England
for training and rest, Alexander rejoined the war in France on 8 January 1918, crossing via
Southampton and rejoining the 9th Battalion
by mid-January.
HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA JUNE 1918
In June 1918 he was struck down by influenza, a common affliction among front-line soldiers as the global pandemic began to spread. He was successively treated at the 57th Casualty Clearing Station, 18th General Hospital at Camiers, and two Convalescent Depots in Boulogne, before returning to duty in early July 1918.
RETURN TO DUTY JULY 1918
By 6 July, he was back in the trenches with the 9th Battalion as the Allies prepared for their final offensives.
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1918
In September he was sent to a training school, likely for NCO instruction, then returned to his unit before being attached to Brigade Headquarters for staff duties around 9–10 November 1918, just as the Armistice was signed. He received a distinguished conduct medal “for gallantry & able leadership during the period 16th-17th September to 11 November 1918. At Villeret on the 18th September 1918, when his officer had become a casualty, he led the platoon successfully against enemy strong points. On reaching the line of exploitation he organised his platoon and selected sites commanding enemy approaches. Bu fearless leadership and personal disregard of personal danger, the successful rout of the enemy was achieved
Source Commonwealth Gazette No 42 dated 20th March 1920
ENGLAND 1919
In early 1919 he was granted leave to the United Kingdom, returning to France later that month — one of many long-serving soldiers winding down after nearly four years of continuous overseas service.
GOING HOME
Alexander embarked the HT Plassy on 5th September 1919, arriving home on 30th October 1919. He was discharged on 30th December 1919
For his service Alexander was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
HOME LIFE
After returning from war, Alexander returned to the Tweed, owning and operating seed and produce merchant store, Young Bros, in Murwillumbah from 1920-25.
He married Olive Amelia Reeves on 27th December 1922 in Nerang.
Along with the love of his life, Olive, Mr Young made his way to Brisbane after the company's' ill-fated demise due to the early onset of the Great Depression.
Excerpts from Granddaughter, Angela Jackson’s, notes
"He actually went bankrupt but he was pretty good, he let things slide," Mrs Jackson said.
"They moved to Eumundi and had a shop up there for a while but there was a great fire, which took out all the stores."
Unfortunately, with insurance fraud prominent during the late 1920s, the pair were not insured and were forced to start over from scratch for a second time.
"They lost everything again, it was heartbreaking but they had a lot of faith - faith in religion and faith in people - and they bounced back," Mrs Jackson said.
Relocating to Brisbane, the pair lived at Mr Young's sister's home in Kelvin Grove before finding their permanent home after enduring hard times.
"They moved back to Brisbane during the Depression, grandfather looked for work for many months," Mrs Jackson said.
"Grandfather got a job on the Brisbane City Council, and because of bankruptcy, grandmother brought a house at Greenslopes and everything was in her name."
They lived in the home until Mr Young retired in 1967, even building an underground air-raid bunker during the Second World War and spending plenty of time in the yard.
"He loved gardening. He was married to a farmer's daughter so he had to love it," Mrs Jackson said.
Alexander died 2nd July 1974, aged 81, in Brisbane and is buried in Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane, Plot LAWN-4-229
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane, Plot LAWN-4-229
