A very fine Third Battle of Albert Tank Corps Military Medal group awarded to Private H. Young, 3rd Light Battalion, Tank Corps, late a Serjeant in the Rifle Brigade who was awarded his Military Medal in the London Gazette of 24th January 1919 for his gallantry during the attack near Achiet-le-Grand on 21st August 1918 when after his tank had been knocked out by a direct hit from enemy artillery he had been wounded in the leg by a bullet and displayed gallantry of the highest order. He repeatedly, although wounded himself went backwards and forwards under intense fire, tending to the wounded and helping them to a place of safety across open ground swept by bullets and shells.
Group of 3: Military Medal, GVR, (76455 PTE. H. YOUNG. 3/LT:BN. TANK C.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (B-2901 SJT. H. YOUNG. RIF. BRIG.) Court-mounted for display.
Condition: Court-mounted for display, BWM toned, Good Very Fine
Harry Young initially saw service as a Serjeant (No. B-2901) with the Rifle Brigade, before later transferring to the Tank Corps with whom he would be awarded a Military Medal in the London Gazette of 24th January 1919 whilst serving with 3rd (Light) Tank Battalion, Tank Corps.
The Tank Corps Book of Honour states that:
‘Near Achiet-le-Grand, on August 21, 1918 after his tank had been knocked out by a direct hit from enemy artillery and he had been wounded in the leg by a bullet, displayed gallantry of the highest order.
The infantry having been driven back a short distance owing to very intense machine-gun and artillery fire, many wounded were lying out exposed to fire. Although wounded himself, this man went backwards and forwards repeatedly, under intense fire, tending to the wounded and helping them to a place of safety across open ground swept by bullets and shells.’
On 21st August 1918, 3rd Light Battalion, Tank Corps was involved in the opening of the Battle of Albert.
Battle of Albert (21–23 August 1918) was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, following the First Battle of Albert and the Second Battle of Albert, with each of the series of three being fought roughly two years apart. This smaller third battle was significant in that it was the opening push that would lead to the Second Battle of the Somme and involved the Australian Corps. The attack opened the advance; the main thrust was launched by the Third Army along with support from the Fourth Army. The Second Battle of Bapaume, from 25 August to 3 September, was a continuation of this battle.
The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50-mile (80 km) front line. On 22 August, the 18th (Eastern) Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras. The following day, the Australian 1st Division, which was advancing north-east from Proyart, attacked German fortifications around Chuignes, and succeeded in capturing the town.
On 29 August, during the Second Battle of Bapaume, the town of Bapaume fell into New Zealand hands. This resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps, who crossed the Somme River on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin. The Westheer (German armies on the Western Front) was pushed back to the Hindenburg Line, from which they had launched their spring offensive.