Remembering James Young

Published 11 November 2022

James (Jim) Young, was one of eight brothers, born in North Pine, Queensland. His family were early pioneers in the region and today Young’s Crossing bears the family’s name. On 18th, August 1916, Jim left behind his civilian life as a farmer and enlisted in the A.I.F. alongside his eldest brother Harry. After enlistment, he was sent to the 11 Depot Battalion to become part of the 17th Reinforcement, 25th Battalion, 2nd Division.

He was taken sick to hospital on 8 February 1917 from the 7th Training Battalion to Fargo Military Hospital, from there he was admitted on 13 February 1917 to Sutton Veny Hospital, Wiltshire, with severe bronchitis. He then proceeded to an overseas posting in France, leaving England via Southampton.

Arriving in France, his battalion supported the Second Battle of Bullecourt. In September 1917 he took part in the Battle of Menin Road in Belgium. Victory here was quickly followed up with the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October. This was the 25th Battalion’s last large-scale action before the end of 1917. During 1918, the 25th Battalion fought major battles at Morlancourt, Hamel, Amiens and along the Somme Valley as the Germans retreated. 

During the 25th Battalion’s continued fighting up the Somme Valley, Jim was seriously wounded in the field on 10 June 1918. His condition was such that he was invalided from France to England only four days later and admitted to the Queen Victoria Hospital at Herne Bay in East Kent on 17 June with a G.S.W. (gross serious wound) caused by a gunshot wound to the spine.

For several months, he was consistently reported as being “dangerously ill”. On 13 December 1918 he was repatriated back to Australia. Following his return to Brisbane he remained hospitalised for nearly two years undergoing treatment; he was not discharged until 11 September 1920 and remained confined to a wheelchair until his death in 1936. After leaving the military, Jim worked for the soldiers' organisations in Brisbane and engaged in hobbies such as chip-carving and pottery. He married Lilliam Gladys Powell in 1927 and they made their home in Balmoral.