Person    | Male  Born 1880  Died 14/7/1915

Alfred Young

Categories: Armed Forces

Aged 35, Detective Sergeant Young was shot dead on duty on 14 July 1915 while attempting to arrest a man with a gun. Buried in Hampstead Cemetery, Fortune Green.

From Met Police: "Alfred had been shot in the chest as he attempted to arrest retired army captain, Richard Gorges at his home in Mount Vernon, a narrow lane in Hampstead. Gorges was wanted by police in connection with “indulgence in illegal sexual practices”. Alfred was shot at around 22:00hrs and died a short time later.  Having been widowed in 1911, he died leaving a fiancée and a six-year-old daughter.  The coroner at the inquest was told by Alfred’s colleague, Detective Sergeant Askew, who was also present at the incident: “He aimed at Young and fired from a distance of about a foot. Young momentarily continued towards Gorges before suddenly falling back and downwards, ending up headfirst at the bottom of the stairs. Sgt Askew told the coroner he grappled with the accused and restrained his right arm which was still holding the revolver. Gorges was tried at the Old Bailey for murder three months after the shooting but was acquitted on the grounds that, because of his drunken state, he would have been incapable of intending to kill. He was, however, convicted of manslaughter for which he served 12 years’ imprisonment. He was released from HM Prison Parkhurst in 1925 before his death in 1944, aged 69. DS Askew was awarded the King’s Police Medal in 1917 for successfully disarming Gorges and preventing any further loss of life, the same award that Alfred had received in 1909 for arresting an armed burglar the previous year."

More information at Find a Grave.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Alfred Young

Commemorated ati

Alfred Young

This plaque was found packed away when the building was being cleared in 2013...

Read More

Other Subjects

W. J. Allison

W. J. Allison

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
F. Mead

F. Mead

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Denver Miner

Denver Miner

Pilot Officer, 133 Eagle Squadron, American. The image, captioned "Denver 'Lucky' Miner", was kindly sent to us by Christine Miner, Denver's niece, along with the following information: Pilot Offi...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
Corporal Frederick John Henry Barrett

Corporal Frederick John Henry Barrett

Frederick John Henry Barrett was born on 6 July 1914, a son of Arthur Willie Barrett (1891-1980) and Florence Alice Barrett née Boland (1891-1916), his birth being registered in the 3rd quarter of ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lieutenant Ernest Harold Canning D.F.C.

Lieutenant Ernest Harold Canning D.F.C.

Ernest Harold Canning was born on 10 August 1895, the fifth of the seven children of Frederick George Canning (1860-1921) and Janet Canning née Barnes (b.1854). His birth was registered in the 3rd ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I

Daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Born Greenwich Palace.  Succeeded her half-sister Queen Mary I. Reigned: 1553 - 1603.   Never married, no children, so followed by James I. Elizabeth I...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

26 memorials
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. For information on where she was brought up see Byron Statue. When she was 10 her father became King George VI (on the abdication of his brot...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

126 memorials
Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

E1, Hanbury Street, 22, Hanbury Community Centre

This plaque has a shortened version of the text on the old white plaque.

10 subjects commemorated
Mothers' Union

Mothers' Union

International Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Founded by Mary Sumner near Winchester, in the parish where her husband was rector. With the support of the Bishop of Winch...

Group, Community / Clubs, Religion

2 memorials
Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

Started on a Sunday morning. After 4 days the destruction included: - an area of one and a half miles by a half mile - 87 churches - 13,200 houses - only 6 people are recorded as having died (but ...

Event, Tragedy

55 memorials