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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 310A

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A very fine campaign group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. K. Young, Indian Army, late 18th Hussars, who witnessed extensive service during both World Wars and earned the rare distinction of 6 confirmed clasps to his India General Service Medal

1914-15 Star (Lt. G. M. K. Young, 27/Lt. Cavy.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. G. M. K. Young.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. G. M. K. Young); India General Service 1908-35, 6 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20; Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31, Mohmand 1933 (Capt G M K Young, 27 Cavy.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style as worn, very fine (7)

George Murdoch Kirkpatrick Young was born on 26 February 1895 at Glendoune House, Girvan, south Ayrshire, the son of John George Kirkpatrick Young, a J.P. for Ayrshire, late 22nd and 80th Regiments. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) on 30 August 1914 and served in France from 6 June 1915 with the 5th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry. Made Lieutenant on 21 December 1915, Young served as a Troop Leader at Ypres, before returning to Tidworth the following May and being employed as Assistant Adjutant and Musketry Instructor in preparation for the Battle of the Somme. Returning to the Western Front, Young saw action at the First Battle of the Scarpe and the Battle of St Quentin from 21-23 March 1918, where the Germans attacked out of the fog in the Somme battlefield sector, successfully breaking the southern part held by the British Fifth Army.

Transferred to the Indian Army on 5 May 1918, attached to the 27th Light Cavalry, Young travelled to India in June 1918 and served as Squadron Officer on Waziristan and Derajet Operations. Promoted Captain on 19 May 1919, he was appointed Temporary Squadron Commander in 1921 during operations in Waziristan under General Sir Andrew Skeen. In 1923 he served as part of the Razmak Field Force under Major-General Arthur Jacob, becoming Temporary Company Commander of the 1/7th Rajput Regiment at Lucknow. Made Company Commander on 1 February 1926, Young's promising career temporarily stalled in a report by his Immediate Commanding Officer, written at Peshawar on 17 March 1931:

'His reliability is, owing to laziness, not marked, his initiative and judgement area weak, zeal and care only shown in things that interest him. Plays no games, scarcely ever rides, takes very little interest in Battalion games & sports, and is frankly an egotist and thoroughly lazy. I do not consider this officer is good enough as an example. He has not yet passed for promotion.'

Having received the report, Major-General J. D. Coleridge, Commander of the Peshawar District, placed Young under special report on account of the fact that there was no record of his being previously warned of his deficiencies. A year later, Lieutenant-Colonel Wagstaff, Commanding 1/7th Rajput Regiment, noted a marked improvement:

'Circumstances have caused this officer to take his profession far more seriously; there has been a very marked improvement in his work; he is of the right type for an Officer and is now a reliable Company Commander. His professional ability is commendable. In habits he is very sociable & he is very popular with all ranks.'

Young's name was removed from the Special Report List.

Promoted Major on 19 May 1933, Young was transferred to the 4/7th Battalion, Rajput Rifles, on 14 May 1935. He was transferred to the Special Unemployed List on 1 November 1935, but was recalled to duty as Company Commander with the 10/7 Rajput Rifles on 30 September 1939, transferring to the 1/7 Rajput Rifles on 27 October 1939. Serving as Administrative Commandant at Pachmarhi from November 1939, he was appointed Commandant of the Garrison Battalion at Falitgarh on 1 March 1942 and promoted Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. Made Lieutenant-Colonel to the 7th Rajput Regiment on 21 March 1945, he served as Registrar in Lahore and Lucknow before retiring on 26 May 1945. Young died on 15 January 1957 and is buried at Girvan (Doune) Cemetery alongside his father. Four further generations of the Young family are buried in the churchyard of Glasgow Cathedral and in Blackadder's aisle there is a window to their memory - all in the name of John Young.

Sold with copied MIC and research, together with the following original comprehensive archive:

(i)
A large confidential file, the front cover impressed in gold lettering 'Record of Services of G. M. K. Young, 4th. Bn. 7th. Rajput Regiment.' This contains the full hand written and typed record of services of Lieutenant-Colonel Young, including military career, original references and remarks by Commanding Officers, requests for promotion, and a large archive of letters regarding pay and conditions in India. It also refers to the management of the family estate and attempts to ensure financial viability. Approximately 80 documents, in good condition and rare.

(ii)
Original Standing Orders (War) for the Waziristan Field Force, June 1919, published by the New Commercial Press, Dera Ismail Khan.

(iii)
A handwritten letter from Field Marshal Sir Claude J. E. Auckinleck, dated 27 May 1933, congratulating Young on his promotion to Major; a second letter from Auchinleck thanking Young for his kind letter of congratulations upon the award of a M.I.D. for pacification of the tribal areas during the Mohmand and Bajaur Operations, dated 6 July 1934. From studying the contents of the file to Young, it is likely that the two men became friends whilst they served and studied at Staff College, Quetta, in the early 1930's.

(iv)
A handwritten letter from Young to his wife, compiled on headed notepaper of the 1/7th Rajput Regiment, dated 29 July 1933:

'We are off to war in about one hour's time, which looks like being a bloody hairy show. So I have nominated you as my next of kin. Sorry & all that, but better through you than direct to ma, if I do get blown up. Cheerio Yours, G.'

(v)
Original group photographs of Young (3), one annotated with the names of officers of the Regiment, together with 2 further photographs, one titled 'On the March to Razmak, near Isha Post, 1928', the other of the Alexandra Ridge Fort, held by the 1/7th Rajput Garrison.

(vi)
Two original card identity discs, the first impressed 'Major G. M. K. Young Q.W. I.A.922 Pres.', the second 'Capt. G. M. K. Young. 1/7 Rajputs.'



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Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£800