YOUNG Wilfred Percy

Wilfred Young was one of many children who were sent to live in Canada.  A large group, including Wilfred, sailed from Liverpool on 19th July 1900 on board the S.S. Tunisian bound for Quebec, Canada.  He was just 11 years old.

Wilfred Percy Young enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 7th January 1915 at Virden, Manitoba, Canada. On his attestation paper he gave his date of birth as 8th January 1890, in Wick, Worcestershire, England. His next of kin was his mother Mrs Sarah Jane young, Wick, near Pershore, Worcestershire, England. He was employed as a farm labourer and had no previous military experience. Wilfred was 5 feet 8½ inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair.

National Archives of Canada Reference:
RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10666 – 37

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers record the following information on Private Wilfred Percy Young:
Previously reported Missing, now for Official purposes presumed to have died on or since 8th October 1916. Killed in Action. Place of Burial: Courcelette Road Cemetery, Miraumont, About ¾ mile N of Courcelette, 5¾ miles N.E. of Albert.
Exhumation Burial Report: Regina Trench Cemetery, Courcelette, 5½ miles N.E. of Albert, Plot I. Row B. Grave 7.

A photograph of Private W.P. Young of Wick can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 8th December 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.