The Airmen's Stories - P/O J H R Young

James Hugh Roumieu Young was born on 19th July 1918, the son of Captain James Roumieu Young (1887-1962) and Augusta Catherine Roumieu Young (nee Thomas 1894-1972), of Dockenfield, Surrey.

He was educated at Aylesford House Preparatory School and St Albans School. On leaving, he became interested in cinematography and went for training to Elstree Studios. At 17, he was selected to assist on a film made in Morocco, Algiers and the Balearic Islands. He later worked on films at Denham and other studios.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in July 1939. Young completed his training and arrived at 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge on April 28th 1940. After converting to Hurricanes, he was posted on May 15th to PDC, Uxbridge for allocation to a squadron in France. Instead he was posted to 74 Squadron at Hornchurch.

Above: F/O Bird, P/O HM Stephen, F/O JC Mungo-Park, P/O BV Draper, P/O PCF Stevenson, P/O DG Cobden, P/O A Smith, P/O JHR Young, WO Mayne, P/O D Hastings

F/Lt. AG Malan, S/Ldr. FL White, F/Lt. WEG Measures

Sgt. EA Mould, F/O DHT Dowding, F/O JC Freeborn

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He was killed on July 28th, shot down into the Channel, possibly by Oberleutnant Muncheberg of III/JG26. His Spitfire, P9547 was reported at the time to have crashed near the Goodwin Sands.

However postwar it was found that his body was washed ashore near Cap Blanc Nez on the same day (below).

Young was 22. At some time postwar he was reburied in Pihen-les-Guines War Cemetery, France.

He is also commemorated on the war memorial at Frensham, Surrey (below).