A truly remarkable Great War Military Medal group of three to Private Percival John ‘Percy’ Young, 58th Battalion, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment who absented himself from the 58th Battalion after action in the field on 7 October 1916 and remained missing until 27th February 1917 when he was apprehended by the Military Police in a Brothel in Amiens. He was tried and convicted on 7 April 1917 by a Field General Court Martial of Desertion and sentenced to death by firing squad, but by great fortune had his sentence commuted to 15 years penal servitude, then not long after was released under the Suspension of Sentences Act, and went on to win the Military Medal having been wounded in action on 29th June, 1917.
Group of 3: Military Medal, G.V.R. (453780 PTE. P. J. YOUNG, 58/BN. 2/C. ONT: R.); British War and Victory Medals (453780 PTE. P. J. YOUNG, 58-CAN. INF.), mounted as worn.
Condition: Light contact wear, Good Very Fine.
Military Medal London Gazette 3 July 1919.
Percival John Young was born in Tamworth, Ontario, Canada, the son of Walter Albert Young go 243 Gordon Avenue, Elmworth, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He enlisted into the 58th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F. at Toronto on 27 Sept 1915, and his stated trade on enlistment was Knitter. Having embarked for England in September 1915, he the embarked for France on 20 Feb 1916.
He was reported ‘Missing in Action’ on 21 Dec 1916 having not been seen following the fighting on 7 Oct 1916. His service papers reveal that on 10 May 1917 he was
‘In confinement awaiting trial 27.2.17. Tried and convicted by F.N.C.M 7.4.17. When in active service, deserting his Majesties Service in that he, on 7.10.16 absented himself from his Battalion until apprehended by the M.P. in a brothel in Amiens on 27.2.17 and sentenced to be shot. Sentence committed to 15 years Penal Servitude. Sentence for 15 Years Penal Servitude released under Suspension of Sentence Act.’
Posted to 9 Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, on his release, Young suffered gunshot wounds to the cheek in action on 29 Jun 1917. He was sentenced to forfeit 4 days pay on 30 Aug 1917 for having been found, when on active service, to be ‘absent from his billet after 9’ on 21 Aug 1917. He returned to the front with 58th Battalion on 2 Oct 1918 having spent the previous weeks in hospital being treated for ghonorea, and his actions in the final weeks of the war resulted in the award of the MM.
Young returned to Canada in February 1919 after which he was discharged.
