John Youngson Age 35
Regimental No. 241602 Private 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Formerly No. 25668 Private Highland Light Infantry
44th Brigade, 15th Scottish Division.
Killed in Action 31 July 1917
Commemorated Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Personal Background
John Youngson was born in Gujerat, India on 28 March 1882. His parents were John Whyte Youngson, a Church of Scotland Minister who spent most of his life working in India, and Helen Moir. John was third of 9 siblings. Alexander, Helen, William, Elizabeth (died 1918), James and Robert were also born in India. The two youngest, Ernest and Mary, were born in Aberdeenshire.The family hailed from Aberdeenshire, and the 1891 Census finds John, aged 9, living with his Grandmother, Helen Youngson, in Pitsligo - perhaps sent home to school or back to a climate that was less debilitating, if he had been ill?
Although thus far no trace of John can be found in the 1901 Census, his mother appears in it as Head of a household at 17 Caledonia Place, Ferryhill, Aberdeen with eldest son, Alexander, now 24, William, 20, Elizabeth and James, both 14, Robert, 12, Ernest, 9 and Mary, aged 5. Their father seems to have spent most of his adult life in India: ships' logs show him a regular commuter between Liverpool and either Karachi or Bombay (Mumbai). It would seem that Mrs Youngson lived in Scotland from the turn of the century with her growing family, as she appears in the 1911 Census in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire with daughters Elizabeth and Mary, and sons Robert and Ernest. There is no record of her travelling with her husband on the journeys that are available for that period.
John's youngest sister, Mary, married Rev. James McGillivray, in 1917 and died in September 1979 in Edinburgh. His brother William married Catherine Douglas Coutts in 1910. Elder sister, Helen, married Dr Alexander Brown, who worked in Africa at the Livingstone Hospital and subsequently served in the RAMC in Mesopotamia during WW1, returning later to the UK. Their son, Alexander Brown, was vice-principal of Edinburgh University in the early 1970s. Elder brothers, William and Alexander, became engineers and seem to also have spent most of their working lives in India.
A small town about 150 miles from Islamabad which was established as a primarily Christian village by their father is known as Youngsonabad. It is in Sialkot district and was part of Punjab pre-partition but is now within Pakistan. The original church and minister's house are still in existence and daily use by the current incumbent. Both parents died within a year of each other, Mrs Youngson in Edinburgh in 1919 and Rev. Youngson in 1920 in his beloved India.
Finding a connection to St Boswells proved difficult, however it was discovered that a John Youngson, of exactly the right age and born in India, was living at Elderbank in St. Boswells in 1911 and working as a gardener. Why and when he moved here is not yet known, but if he remained for several years before joining up, then he would have been regarded as a St. Boswells resident and therefore it was appropriate for him to be remembered on the local Memorial. Contact was made with some descendents who unfortunately knew little about him.
Military Background
On 30 July 1917, the 8th Seaforths moved into Cambridge Trench and at 03.15 the following morning, 31 July, moved out of the trench. "A" and "D" Companies were in front of the trench, with "B" and "C" behind. Platoons - 4 to each Company - were in single rank at 100 yard distances and intervals. The exact positions of the Companies had been reconnoitred by all company officers. Gaps in the Cambridge Trench wire were cleared and compass bearings of the initial line of advance were taken.
At 03.50 the whole Battalion advanced in formation and reached no-man's land clear of the enemy barrage, which by 04.10 was quite severe. The British 6 minute barrage on the enemy front-line system did not cause any check in no-man's land, but on reaching the enemy front line, "A" and "D" Companies leading became mixed up with the 9th Black Watch and 8th/10th Gordons, who were engaged in a series of small fights. Crossing no-man's land, "B" Company reported 20 casualties from shellfire, while other companies suffered slightly. "A" Company captured a machine-gun post at the junction of Ibex Avenue and Ibex Reserve Trenches. By 04.50 the Battalion was reported to be in the German Reserve Line and engaged in mopping up. Hostile machine gune fire was considerable from the front and flanks. On the right, the 8th/10th Gordons faced considerable fighting and portions of "C" and "D" Companies took part in the capture of Wilde Wood.
As soon as the 9th Black Watch and 8th/10th Gordons advanced from the Blue Line, the Battalion, less the platoons already there, moved forward to it, and the companies reorganised to commence consolidation. The enemy shelling was so severe, however, that work was impossible and the whole line advanced. "A "Company dug in 200 yards from Douglas Villa, with "C" and "D" Companies of the right of the line. "C" Company were astride the Ypres - Roules Railway, "B" Company was in the Wilde Wood about 80 yards to the rear of "A" and "D" Companies.
During the period of consolidation and throughout the afternoon, the Battalion was under heavy artillery fire and suffered considerable casualties. It is very likely that Private Youngson was killed at this time by shell fire, as his body was never recovered.