| Date |
Information |
|
| 04/05/2019 |
Robert Young is believed to be a cousin of the Newell family of Stewartstown. Six of the Newell family saw service in WWI. |
| 04/05/2019 |
A report from January 1916 notes that Gunner Young had spent 16 months in the thick of the fight in France without receiving a scratch. |
| 04/05/2019 |
Gunner Young was home on leave at the end of 1915. |
| 04/05/2019 |
Gunner Robert Young had been in France since the outbreak of war. |
| 04/05/2019 |
Robert Young was married. His wife lived in Ballymaguire. |
| 04/05/2019 |
Robert Young’s parents lived in Tamlaght. |
| 04/05/2019 |
It is possible Robert was a brother of Samuel Young of Tamlaght, who died in the war. However, no newspaper report mentions this. Also, Samuel’s brother was born in 1898, which meant he would have been 16 years old at the start of the war, and so unlikely to have been married. |
| 03/05/2019 |
‘I am sure you must be wondering why you have not heard from me for such a long time, but I have had the misfortune to become separated from my own battery. I really don’t know what happened, the chaos and dim were so terrible, and only after it was all over did I discover I was not with my comrades. I would be very glad indeed to find them again, and I am hoping to do so again before very long, so just continue to send my letters and parcels there. I will be sure to get them all right. Like many others I would be more than thankful this awful business was over, but I very much fear it will take a long time yet. There is such a lot to be done and we are up against a very powerful enemy, who does not scruple to use any means to further his own ends. I don’t think that folks at home half realise what is going on out here – women and children shelled out of house and home, barely escaping with their lives without either food or clothing and indeed great numbers of them have perished with their homes. I have seen women dragging five or six helpless children along the roads in pursuit of safety with shells bursting everywhere around them. Just fancy what that would mean to people at home. The women here have had to take the entire responsibility for of the children, as every man whom is at all capable is either in the firing line or else he has already given his life for his country, and that is what I think every man of military age, both in England and Ireland, should be doing. If they could only see some of the sights that I have seen, I venture to say they would soon be willing to shoulder their rifles and come over to help those of us who are fighting against such tremendous odds. I am thankful to say that I am quite safe so far, though I have had some narrow escapes, my comrades being killed and wounded at my side. I still have the feeling that I will be spared to see you all again, and I earnest hope that it may be so. I am certainly very tired of all the terrible carnage that is going on out here, and the noise of the guns is simply deafening, but it must be a fight to a finish now. I am very sorry to hear that Jack was wounded, but I hope his wound is not serious. Remember me to any friends whom may be enquiring about me.’ |
| 03/05/2019 |
 |
| 03/05/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th November 1914: Private Joseph Newell (cousin of Gunner Robert Young) |
| 03/05/2019 |
 |
| 03/05/2019 |
Private Joseph Newell, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action at the front on 21st October, is as a son Mrs Newell, North Street, Stewartstown, and the late Mr William Newell. He joined the army at the earliest possible age for enlistment, and was scarcely twenty one years of age when he fell on the field of battle. For two years prior to the outbreak of war he was an officer’s servant, and his master (with whom he was very popular), being medically unfit for active service, it could have been arranged that young Newell should remain with him, but he elected to go to the front. Letters from his comrades told of his bravery and cheerfulness. Much sympathy is felt for his widowed mother, who has three other sons in the army – Private Samuel Newell in India, under orders for France; Private James Newell, in the Army Veterinary Corps, on field service, and Private John Newell, in active service in France. Mrs Newell’s brother, Mr William Anderson, is in training at Finner Camp, while two nephews, Joseph Anderson and Tom Anderson, were campaigners in the South African war, and the former has been wounded at the front in France. Another cousin of the deceased young soldier, Gunner Robert Young, is on active service, and among his other relatives in the service are John Crooks at Finner; Sam Crooks of the Highland Light Infantry, on active service; Robert McAllister and Sam McAllister, with the Canadian Volunteer contingent at the front. |
| 03/05/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th January 1916: |
| 03/05/2019 |
 |
| 03/05/2019 |
Gunner Robert Young, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, whose parents reside in Tamlaght, has just returned to the war after having spent a week with his wife in Ballymaguire. He has spent 16 months in the thick of the fight in France without receiving a scratch. He is looking splendid, and speaks highly of the treatment that the British soldier receives. Once he had the misfortunate to lose his Battery during a forward movement, but regained it all right. He took part in the three days’ struggle for Ypres, where the Germans attempted to break through British lines, but were repulsed with heavy losses every time. Also at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert. He would like to see more of the young men from home doing their bit, for although the English are having the best of it, the enemy were doing some very cruel work by their deadly gas. They never fought fair - open murder all the time, but he hoped they would suffer for it all yet, as the British are bound to be victorious. He doubts the war won’t be over for a long time, and the weather is cold and wet at present. |
| 03/05/2019 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: |
| 03/05/2019 |
The History of Coagh booklet lists Gunner Robert Young as having served with the Royal Garrison Artillery in the war. |
| 03/05/2019 |
The friends of Robert Young, of Tamlaghtmore have been very anxious about him for some time past, but were greatly relieved a few days ago by the receipt of the following letter from him:- |
| 03/05/2019 |
 |
