Military Cross : Lieutenant W E Young, 3 Battalion, AMF

Military Cross (Geo VI). Engraved on reverse lower arm with date of award.

William Edward Young was born at Leeton, New South Wales, in December 1917. He joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a young man, working in the Patents Office in Canberra. At the age of 18 in 1936, he enlisted in the Militia, joining 3 Battalion. Attaining the rank of Sergeant by 1940 with Mortar Platoon Headquarters Company, Young undertook officer training in that year achieving a distinguished first within the school. By the time he enlisted in the Second AIF in August 1941 he was serving as a lieutenant with 3 Battalion and had the service number N42979.

Upon enlistment into the Second AIF he was allocated the service number NX76322. He was briefly attached to 2/13 Battalion, before undertaking further training and embarking with 3 Battalion to New Guinea in May 1942. In the third week of July, Japanese forces landed in the Gona area, on the north coast of Papua before moving inland a week later. 3 Battalion participated in the advance to push the Japanese forces back along the Kokoda Trail, patrolling and then occupying Ioribaiwa, Menari and Efogi, Myola and Templeton's Crossing.

On 25 November 3 Battalion, now supporting 25 Brigade, attacked Gona finally capturing it on 1 December with reinforcements from 21 Brigade. It was in the fighting at Gona, a heavily fortified, coastal stronghold of the Japanese, that Young earned the Military Cross. The recommendation reads: 'At GONA on 24 and 25 November 1942, Lieut. YOUNG led a patrol into the right flank of the enemy positions, guided another patrol and finally guided his company in an assault against prepared enemy positions. During the first patrol, Lieut. YOUNG shot two of the enemy, in the second patrol of the following day he courageously moved forward with the leading scout to draw fire and thus locate enemy weapons and in the assault of the same day continued to give directions to his Company Commander after receiving multiple wounds in both legs. His sustained coolness and bravery were a fine example to his men. Lieut. YOUNG exhibited the same quality of leadership in action at TEMPLETON'S CROSSING on 18 Oct. and at OIVI from the 5-11 November 1942.'

Young received wounds to his right leg and left knee. His right leg was amputated in December 1942 and from his records, his left leg appears to have also been amputated at a later date, before his discharged from the AIF in June, 1944.

• 1939-45 Star : Leiutenant W E Young, 3 Battalion, AMF
• Pacific Star : Lieutenant W E Young, 3 Battalion, AMF
• British War Medal 1939-45 : Lieutenant W E Young, 3 Battalion, AMF
• Australia Service Medal : Lieutenant W E Young, 3 Battalion, AMF