Studio portrait of 926 Private John Buchanan Young, 34th Battalion of Weston, New South Wales. ...

Studio portrait of 926 Private John Buchanan Young, 34th Battalion of Weston, New South Wales. Prior to enlistment, Pte Young served for one and a half years in the 14th Battalion, Citizens Military Forces (CMF) before enlisting on 22 January 1916, aged 19 years. He embarked from Sydney with the 34th Battalion on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 2 May 1916, and whilst in England, was promoted to Lance Corporal (L Cpl) on 21 August 1916. He proceeded to France on 21 November of the same year. L Cpl Young was reported missing in action on 7 June 1917 near Ploegsteert Wood. In a letter to his local Member of the House of Representatives the Honourable Matthew Charlton, dated 3 August 1917, L Cpl Young’s father writes “It is with regret I write to you to ask you to see if you can help me as we are in very sorrow and trying affliction. I have a son at the front and he is reported missing since the 11th June and I ask you to for god sake to assist us and try and find out if he is alive or dead…Please do try and get some news of him and let us know at your earliest convenience and you will release and earn the lasting gratitude of his distracted parents…” A court of enquiry held on 20 November 1917, resolved that L Cpl Young was killed in action between the dates of 6-12 June 1917 in the vicinity of Messines.