David Younger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1871-03-17)17 March 1871 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 11 July 1900(1900-07-11) (aged 29) † Krugersdorp, South Africa |
| Buried | Krugersdorp Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1893 – 1900 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | The Gordon Highlanders |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
CaptainDavid Reginald Younger,VC (17 March 1871 – 11 July 1900) was aScottish recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded toBritish andCommonwealth forces.
He was the son of David Younger (1844–1883) and his wife Menie Isadora Younger (1849–1931). His father died when he was only 12 years old.[1]
Younger was educated atSt Ninian's School, Moffat andMalvern College (1885 – 1890). He was commissioned in 1891 and transferred to theGordon Highlanders on 23 December 1893.[2] Promoted tolieutenant during the mid 1890s, he left for active service inSouth Africa following the outbreak of theSecond Boer War in October 1899, and was promoted tocaptain on 14 December 1899.[3]
Younger was 29 years old, and acaptain in the 1st Battalion, theGordon Highlanders,British Army during theSecond Boer War when the deed described below took place nearKrugersdorp for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross (posthumously) after he died of injuries received during theBattle of Dwarsvlei on 11 July 1900:The Gordon Highlanders under Major-General Smith-Dorrien were ordered to march from Krugersdorp towards Hekpoot. About 15 km from Krugersdorp they were encountered by a commando under Vecht-Generaal Oosthuizen who opened fire from mountain ridges above the road. The battle was fierce and it was only after dark that the British managed to extricate their guns, wagons and wounded and limped back to Krugersdorp. The engagement was described by Major-GeneralHorace Smith-Dorrien as their 'most trying fight of the whole war'.
His citation in theLondon Gazette reads:
This Officer, during the action near Krugersdorp, on the 11th July, 1900, volunteered for and took out the party which successfully dragged a Royal Artillery waggon under cover of a small kopje, though exposed to a very heavy and accurate fire at only 850 yards range. He also accompanied the second party of volunteers who went out to try and bring in one of the guns. During the attempt he was mortally wounded, dying shortly afterwards. His cool and gallant conduct was the admiration of all who witnessed it.[4]
The Victoria Cross was awarded by King George V on his coronation day, 9 August 1902, the king giving the medal to his widowed mother.[5] D R Younger is also memorialised on his parents grave inDean Cemetery in westEdinburgh.