Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain H. S. Young, 12th Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps, who was Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks, Commander of 30 Corps, during the campaigns in North Africa and North West Europe, 1942-45

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with War Office named card box of issue addressed to ‘Capt. H. S. Young, Vann House, Finchampstead, Berks’ and Army Council medal award slip confirming campaign stars and medals, nearly extremely fine (6) £400-£500

M.B.E. London Gazette 11 October 1945: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe. Captain Harold Stephen Young (170413), 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s), Royal Armoured Corps (Beckenham, Kent).’

The original recommendation submitted by Lieutenant-General B. G. Horrocks, Commanding 30 Corps, states:

‘Capt Young has for three years been ADC to the present Comd 30 Corps, during the campaigns in Africa and North West Europe. During the operations in the Reichswald Forest, at the Crossing of the Rhine and in the subsequent advance into Germany Capt Young was responsible for the organisation and control of the Tactical HQ and Command Post of 30 Corps. On many occasions Capt Young performed the duties usually carried out by a second grade staff offr and bore responsibilities far beyond those normal for his rank. He has during the whole period under review given untiringly of his services. By his unerring efficiency and easy grace combined with unremitting devotion to duty and willingness to accept heavy responsibility he has influenced in a vital and personal manner the successful outcome of the operations.’ At the end of this recommendation is an added note written by Horrocks which reads: ‘He has been of the greatest assistance to me personally and his contribution to the success of this Corps has been considerable.’

Harold Stephen Young’s war had begun with the 6th Cavalry Training Regiment at Maidstone; he was moved to Shorncliffe during the autumn of 1940 when the invasion was a strong possibility and given the task of patrolling the cliffs of Dover on a horse, armed with a sword. After attending the Horsed-Cavalry Officer Cadet Training Unit at Weedon, Young was commissioned and asked in what regiment he wold like to serve. Thinking rightly that there was no future for horsed cavalry, and not being inspired by tanks, he asked if he could join the Fleet Air Arm. He was told there was such an enormous waiting list there was no point in adding his name to it. He was then sent on a cavalry mechanisation course and afterwards posted, voluntarily, to the 12th Lancers. While on patrol in the desert he was caught in a Stuka attack and wounded. Although the wound was not serious, it made it impossible for him to sit in a tank for long periods, so he became a liaison officer. Horrocks had arrived in the Middle East with an ADC named Spooner, an infantryman. Spooner was an excellent ADC but had no desert experience, and therefore suggested that someone used to the desert should replace him as ADC. Horrocks therefore chose Young, and retained him till the end of the war, except for short periods when illness intervened. (Horrocks. The General who led from the Front, by Philip Warner, Hamish Hamilton, London, refers).

Horrocks makes the following observations in his own autobiography, A Full Life, published by Collins in 1960:

‘By now Harold Young of the 12th Lancers had become my A.D.C. and we remained together, except for the period when I was in hospital, up to the end of the war. Few people realise what an important part an A.D.C. plays in the military hierarchy. He can be of the greatest assistance to his commander or he may be a complete menace. A General in battle leads a lonely lifewith immense responsibility resting on his shoulders. For much of the time he is putting on an act, disguising his innermost feelings. He alone must make the decisions which affect the lives of thousands of his men, for battles cannot be run like board meetings.
A Commander will spend a large part of every day driving round units accompanied by his A.D.C. and it makes all the difference if they get on well together so that the mask can be dropped when they are alone. An A.D.C,. can act as a buffer between a commander and an all-too-importunate staff, but this has to be done with considerable tact or the A.D.C. will be accused of becoming swollen-headed. The sensible, sympathetic A.D.C. who is trusted and liked by both the commander and staff is worth his weight in gold, and he can do a great deal to make the wheels go round smoothly. I was very lucky with mine.
Later on in Europe Young was joined by Lord Rupert Nevill who in spite of a very youthful appearance turned out to be extremely shrewd. Both of them really became personal staff officers and I would say quite seriously that their contribution to the successful battles fought by my corps was out of all proportion to their rank and age.’

Sold with a ‘XXX Corps’ bronze commemorative medal detailing the Corps’ participation in the fighting from Alamein to Cuxhaven, and listing the Corps’ actions in North West Europe 1944-45, viz, Normandy, Mount Pinçon, Crossing of the Seine, Brussels and Antwerp, The Advance to Arnhem, The Ardennes, The Reichswald, Crossing of the Rhine, & Final Advance into Germany; and an autographed copy of A Full Life by Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., LL.D. (Hon.), inscribed in ink on the inside cover - ‘To Harold, With many thanks for all your constant support and help during some difficult times. Brian Horrocks, 7 Sep 1960.’ Captain Young is mentioned at length several times.