Andrew Gardyne Young

Student

Andrew was studying to become a minister, like his father, when he was killed at Passchendaele on the 13th October 1917. He was born in Paisley thirty years earlier. His father, James, was the minister at the North Church and the family lived at the North Manse in Inchinnan Road. Andrew was a pupil at Paisley Grammar School and went up to University, not straight from school, but when he was 23. He matriculated in the Arts Faculty in 1910 and enrolled in Latin and English Literature. The following year he studied Moral Philosophy, History and Geography. In his final year in Arts he enrolled in Greek, Philosophy and Political Economy before beginning further studies in Theology. It is difficult to say what kind of student he was, as he does not seem to have sat or passed any degree exams. In his preparation for the Ministry, however, he covered a broad curriculum, and in his two years in Divinity, from 1913 to 1915, studied Hebrew, Divinity, Church History and Biblical Criticism. And then the war interrupted his studies, his course left incomplete and his five years at university unrewarded by a graduation. He did have some opportunity for training within the Ministry, however. In the months before he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 6th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders he was assistant to the Rev Dr. Anderson at Renfrew Parish Church.

Memorial chapel at the University of Glasgow — The Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow

Andrew received his commission on the 10th October 1915. His battalion, the 1/6th (Renfrewshire) was raised, like Andrew, in Paisley, and originally stationed there. In May 1915 it landed in France and by Autumn 1917 was in Flanders. Andrew died on the day after the First Battle of Passchendaele (12th October), a messy and dreadful action in dense mud and torrential rain where drowning and enemy fire claimed many lives. His grave is at Bedford House Cemetery south of Ypres and carries the inscription â€˜Unforgettableâ€™. He is also remembered on the panel of the war memorial of his old school, Paisley Grammar. Lieutenant Young was thirty.