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Young, Nelson, Cypress River, Manitoba. Occupation: Farmer and student at Manitoba Agricultural College. Military Service: Lieutenant, Reg. No. 910073, 196th Univ. Bn. Attestation Papers.
Additional Biographical Information:
Brother of Matthew Henry "Matt" Young.
1917
Undergraduate, N. Young, 910073, 196th Univ. Bn. University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, Managra, v. XI, No. 1 (Nov 1917), 10.
1919
Manitoba Agricultural College has played no small part in the great struggle just closed. In spite of the pressing needs of agriculture, more than 300 men have gone out from the student body, staff, graduates and employees of the college for active service. Of this number Nelson Young has the honor of being the first old student to return to his interrupted college course from an actual theatre of war.
Nels. was one of the large number from the M.A.C. who joined the 196th Western Universities Battalion, along with Frank McAuley, Matt Young, Frank Laughland, George Black, Roy Hopper, Dad McKenzie and some forty or fifty others who are well remembered by at least the fourth and fifth years.
The vast possibilities for destruction embodied in the modern machine gun naturally appealed to the disposition of 910144 [sic – should be 910073] Pte. N. Young, and he early transferred to the Machine Gun Section of the 196th – a small but most promising body of trouble hunters. The 196th left for overseas in October, 1916. The Battalion contained in the ranks such remarkably good material for the making of officers that it was for a time turned into an Officers’ Training Corps by the War Office. Young seized the opportunity with characteristic energy and in March, 1917, was in France as a commissioned officer. If anyone doubts whether Mr. Young made good in the firing line, let him ask any of the boys who were with him in the 1st C.M.R.s during the fierce fighting that took place around the summer of 1917. Young very well represents the type of Canadian who made the Canadian Corps what finally became the wonder and admiration of the world.
To his own great disgust and disappointment Young was wounded about the end of August, 1917 and very nearly died from injuries which resulted in the loss of a leg. He was able to return to Canada in April, 1918 and resumed his studies at the M.A.C. this year. We are glad indeed to welcome Mr. Young back. May all the old students come back and may they come back showing that same cheerful dauntless courage towards life in general that characterized their attitude toward the enemy. C. H.
University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, Managra, v. XII, No. 1 (Jan. 1919), 11.