Henry William Young

Harry Young was born in 1836, the eldest son of Henry Young, a chief secretary to the government of Bombay. He was educated at Brighton College and had military training at Addiscombe. His first commission was in the 4th Bombay Rifles, serving in the Persian Campaign of 1856-57. He was at the storming of Reshire and the surrender of Bushire. Also involved when the British rearguard was attacked at night, and the battle of Kooshab. In the Indian Mutiny he was with the Bombay Rifles and attached to the Poona Irregular Horse. This unit fought against the Bheels in the Nassick and Kandeish Hills. For four months in early 1858 he was in command of the frontier post of Rajapore. He then served on the Sathoora Field Force against the Rohillas and Bheels in the Vindhya Mountains. In 1858-59 he was on the Divisional Staff of Sir John Michel against the rebels under Tantia Topee in Central India.
The 17th Lancers were serving in Central India in the latter part of the Mutiny, and Harry Young transferred to them as a cornet on 23 Aug 1859. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 23 July 1861. He was with them in India until their return to Britain in 1865. The following year he transferred again to the 18th Royal Irish Regiment with the rank of captain. In 1868 he was appointed ADC to the governor of New Zealand. He changed his name to Keays-Young in 1872. He was married twice. First to Laura Wentworth on 17 Dec 1872 in Knightsbridge. She was the daughter of William Charles Wentworth, the Australian explorer and writer. They had two daughters who sadly died in infancy. His wife Laura died in 1887 and he married Henrietta MacNaughton in 1889 in London. He reached the rank of major in 1881 but was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel on his retirement. He died on 28 Jan 1902 at Hollingbourne, Kent. The photo shows him c1865 in the dress uniform of the 17th Lancers with embroidered crowns on his collar indicating the rank of lieutenant, and wearing medals for his service in Persia and the Indian Mutiny.

Soldiers | Regimental details