Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Signaller E. E. Young, Royal Navy, a submariner who served in the Baltic operations

1914-15 Star (J. 3794 Sig., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 3794 L. Sig., R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S., G.V.R., ‘Coinage head’ (J. 3794 (Po. B. 12831) L. Sig., R.F.R.), good very fine (4) £200-300

Ernest Edwin Young was born at Canning Town, London in July 1893 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in March 1909, aged 15 years. Advanced to Ordinary Signalman in July 1911 and to Signalman in February of the following year, he transferred to the submarine branch in June 1913 with an appointment in the depot ship Bonaventure.

Similarly employed on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Young went on to serve in the Thames and Maidstone submarine depot ships before gaining his first seagoing appointment. For, between August 1916 and July 1917, he served as a Leading Signalman in H.M. Submarine E. 19 in the Baltic, which vessel was commanded for much of that time by Commander F. N. A. Cromie, D.S.O. - in April 1918 the submarine was scuttled at Helsingfors to avoid capture.

And between December 1917 and June 1919 Young served in H.M. Submarine L. 2 and was thus present in her when she was mistaken for a German U-Boat by the U.S. destroyers Paulding, Davis and Trippe on 29 February 1918. They opened fire, causing her to dive, after which they followed up with depth charges which jammed the submarine’s after hydroplanes which caused her to hit the seabed. With great skill, Lieutenant-Commander Bernard Acworth managed to bring the submarine to the surface where she was again fired upon by the American ships - it was no doubt a disappointment to the destroyers to be ‘deprived of their prey’ when the L. 2 managed to hoist the White Ensign and make her recognition signals!

Young ended his career with an appointment in the K. 14 and was discharged ashore in December 1919, when he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve.