Charles L Young
Victoria
Charles Lyle Young was born 12 March 1893 in Barnawartha Victoria, son of Robert Edward and Beatrice Young of Lansell Road Toorak.
Charles attended Geelong College in 1909 and 1910 and raced in the school's first eight in 1910 in the four seat. The crew were eliminated in their heat by Melbourne Grammar but he must have been a good athlete to reach the first crew in his second year in the sport.
It is not surprising that he did not race after school given that he immediately joined his father at Bell Plains Station in Corowa as an overseer, his father was the station manager. So that is the end of the rowing story of Charles. However he was well known throughout the Riverina as a good horseman, cricketer and tennis player. His AIF enlistment forms show that he had become the station manager of the Bell Palins Station by 1915.
On 29th January 1915 at the age of nearly 22, Charles enlisted in AIF. A month later he embarked for Egypt with 8th Light Horse. After some intense training, the 8th Light Horse embarked for Gallipoli to reinforce the infantry battalions who had undertaken the initial assault on Anzac Cove. He spent the next few months rotating through the front line at Walker's Ridge including a repulsing a frontal attack by the Turks which was repulsed. A few days later on 3rd July 1915, Charles was killed in action being shot by a bullet, and so probably a sniper victim.
He was buried at the Ari Burnu Anzac Cemetery, Gallipoli.
Compiles by Andrew Guerin
September 2025
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia - WWI service records - Young Charles Lyle : SERN 538 : POB Barnawartha VIC : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK F Young Robert E, Series number B2455, Item ID 1911034
- Post by Ruth Mott, Facebook, Old History of Victoria group, 24th July 2025