Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Boer War ‘defence of Fort Prospect’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Company Sergeant-Major William Young, Dorsetshire Mounted Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (2196 C. Serjt.-Maj. W. Young, Dorset: Regt. M.I.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (2196 Pte. W. Young, Dorset Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2196 Serjt. W. Young, Dorset: Regt.) light contact marks and cleaned, otherwise very fine (3) £3000-3500

D.C.M. London Gazette 31 October 1902; details London Gazette 3 December 1901: ‘For gallantry and good service in defence of Fort Prospect, 26 December 1901.’

On 26 December 1901, Fort Prospect, which was garrisoned by 35 men of the Dorset Mounted Infantry and 51 of the Durham Artillery Militia under Captain Rowley of the Dorsets, was attacked by 500 of Botha’s Boers, at 4.30 a.m., under cover of a mist in the donga. ‘The Boers,’ wrote Captain Rowley in his report, ‘made a very severe attack on the north and west of my position, the brunt of the attack fell on two sangars held by the Durham Company of Artillery; the Boers broke through the wire and got to within 20 yards of these sangars, but they both gallantly held their own and I, with the aid of the Maxim, was able to repulse this attack. By 6.30 a.m. the Boers drew off from this flank. They then commenced a very severe attack on the rear of my post, but by 10 a.m. it was repulsed. About this time a party of Zululand Native Police, gallantly led by Serjeant Gumbi, broke through and reinforced me; he brought with him 13 men and had marched 4 miles from his own post to reinforce me.

‘The Boers now had completely surrounded the camp, but contented themselves by keeping up a heavy fire chiefly directed on the Maxim Fort. This fire was kept up all day, gradually lessening towards evening, when the Boers drew off about 6 p.m.

‘My casualties were one killed and eight wounded, which, considering the severity of the fire, is very little. I consider it was owing to the excellent cover afforded by the forts and trenches, as we were subjected to very heavy firing for 13 hours. I estimate the strength of the Boers at from 500 to 600 men, and they belonged to the Ermelo or Carolina commandos. The casualties of the Boers are unknown, but two dead were buried at Polgeiter’s Farm. The prisoners who were taken at Itala say that the Boers own to having 60 killed and wounded in the attack on Fort Prospect. I picked up 30 dead horses next morning, also 2 rifles and 20 saddles.

‘I cannot close the report without mentioning the gallantry displayed by all ranks, especially by the Durham Company of Militia Artillery.’ Heading the list of four men of the Dorset Mounted Infantry was 2196 Company Serjeant-Major W. Young, who ‘greatly aided me in the defence.’

William Young was born at Poole, Dorset, and attested for the Dorsetshire Regiment at Poole on 27 February 1886, aged 18 years 6 months. He served in India from February 1895 until April 1897, and in South Africa from January 1900, where he ‘did excellent work as Company Sergeant Major of Mounted Infantry.’ He was discharged medically unfit, due to an ankle injury whilst serving with the Mounted Infantry, at Portsmouth on 15 March 1903.