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Pte. Ronald George Young
British Army 1st Btn. Somerset Light Infantry
from:Burnham-On-Sea
(d.1st July 1916)
Private Ronald Young was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme attacking the Quadrilateral Redoubt (Heidenkopf) on Redan Ridge.
On the 1st of July 1916 at 7.30am the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry part of 11th Brigade, 4th Division, went over the top just north of Beaumont Hamel, following a week long artillery bombardment which stopped at 7.20am to allow a large mine to be detonated. This allowed the Germans to come out of their deep bunkers knowing an attack was imminent. The wire had not been effectively cut and the men attacked in line formation and were funnelled though such narrow gaps as existed and were cut down by the German guns.
Ron was amongst 58,000 of his comrades killed that day. His body has never been found, but may well be one of the unknowns at buried in Serre Road No.2. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and in Burnham-On-Sea.
