David Younger

He led men through rifle fire to save a wagon and heavy guns

David Reginald Younger VC volunteered twice to recover artillery equipment under Boer rifle fire near Krugersdorp on 11 July 1900. His second attempt ended in a mortal wound, and his gallantry was recognised with a posthumous Victoria Cross in 1902.

Born in Edinburgh on 17 March 1871, Younger was educated at St Ninian's School in Moffat and Malvern College. He began his military career with the Duke of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Artillery Volunteers before receiving a commission in the Gordon Highlanders in December 1893. Service in India took him through the Chitral expedition, the Punjab frontier operations and the Tirah campaign. He was present at the assault on the Dargai Heights in October 1897.

He accompanied the Gordons to South Africa when the Boer War began and became a captain in December 1899. During the fighting at Leeuhoek, an artillery wagon and guns were exposed to accurate fire. Younger led men who dragged the wagon into shelter behind a small hill. He then joined Captain William Gordon's volunteers in an attempt to bring in a gun. Hit during the effort, he was carried to cover but died shortly afterwards, aged 29.

He was buried at Krugersdorp Cemetery. The initial announcement recorded that he would have been recommended for the VC had he survived. The award followed in August 1902, when such earlier cases were recognised posthumously. His preserved group includes the India Medal with three clasps and Queen's South Africa Medal with four.

Official Victoria Cross citation

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 to bring in one of the guns. During the attempt he was mortally wounded, dying shortly afterwards. His cooland gallant conduct was the admiration of all who witnessed it, and, had Captain Younger lived, the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief in South Africa, would have recommended him for the high award of the Victoria Cross, at the same time as Captain W. E. Gordon, of the same Regiment.

(The London Gazette of 8 August 1902, Numb. 27462, p. 5085)