St. John Graham Young

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Lieutenant St. John Graham Young GC (16 June 1921–24 July 1944) was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest British (and Commonwealth) award for bravery out of combat, for his heroism in rescuing his comrades from a minefield in Italy on 23 July 1944. He was serving with the Royal Tank Regiment, attached to the Indian Armoured Corps.[1][2]

Notice of the award was published in the London Gazette on 20 July 1945.[3] Young had been leading a night patrol on 23 July 1944, when he and his men found themselves in any enemy minefield. He recevied the full force of a mine explosion, severly injuring both legs. Despite his wounds, his encouragement enabled the majority of his men to reach safety. One of them, Sowar Ditto Ram, was also posthumously awarded the GC for his actions in the same incident.[4]

Young was born in Esher in Surrey[1] and commissioned into the RTR in 1942.[5] He is buried in Arezzo War Cemetery.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b St. John Graham Young, GC. George Cross database. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  2. ^ George Cross Recipients - Summary Index. George Cross database. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37185, page 3765, 17 July 1945.
  4. ^ a b Commonwealth War Graves Commission—Casualty details—Young, St John Graham. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35433, page 438, 23 January 1942.
  • Kempton, Chris, The Victoria Crosses and George Crosses of the Honourable East India Company and Indian Army, Military Press, 2001, ISBN 0 85420 309 5