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I was rather pleased to acquire this pair, having long wanted one to the St. John Ambulance - Lewis Youren didn't disappoint

Lewis Youren

Orderly, St. John Ambulance Brigade – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal to 1169 Ordly. L. Youren, St. John Amb. Bde.
- St. John Ambulance Brigade Medal for the Boer War to 1169 Pte. L. Youren, Leeds Corps

Louis or Lewis Youren was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire on 21 November 1881 the son of Frederick Youren a Railway Engine Driver by occupation and his wife Emma. It was only on 30 December 1888 that young Lewis and his younger brother Arthur Thomas were baptised in the Parish church of St. Luke the Evangelist in Beeston Hill, Yorkshire whilst living at 31 Barton Terrace.

Three years later, at the time of the 1891 England census the Youren family were still at the same address with 9 year old Lewis’s siblings - elder brother Frederick George (10) and younger brothers Arthur (7) and Francis (6 months) all at home. Little else had changed in their daily lives.

1894 was an eventful year for the 12 year old Youren – the Leeds Times of Saturday, 27 October carried an article headed “Award of Leeds Council Scholarships” wherein it was stated that, “An examination was held at the Bewerley Street Higher Grade School on October 13th for 20 scholarships, tenable for 19 months at that school. The value of each scholarship is £15, to be paid in three instalments of £4, £5 and £5 subject to satisfactory reports.

All candidates were required to be of the industrial classes of Leeds, and under 14 years of age. The subject of examination embraced reading, composition, spelling, arithmetic, geography, grammar, English history, and freehand drawing. One hundred and ten candidates (63 boys and 47 girls) presented themselves.” Lewis Youren was one of the successful 20 showing early academic promise. Having finished his schooling it is assumed that he joined the employ of the Railways but more about that anon.

October 1899 saw the dawn of the Anglo Boer War between the might of Imperial Britain and two rather obscure little Republics nestled in the southern tip of Africa. Soon after the onset of the War, it became obvious to the British authorities that the Royal Army Medical Corps would not be able to cope with the numbers of casualties from battle and disease.

As a trained, uniformed body of men and woman, St. John Ambulance was to form a medical reserve for the Armed Forces in the event of war. In 1898, a discussion between the War Office and the recognised voluntary agencies had led to arrangements under which the British Red Cross agreed to deal with fundraising, the Order of St. John would organise the receipt and despatch of ambulance material and provide trained men to supplement the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), and offers of help by trained nurses would be dealt with by Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve. This arrangement was quickly to be tested when the South African War broke out.

Under the Chief Commissioner, Colonel Bowdler, and the Chief Superintendent, William Church Brasier, the Brigade responded almost at once. The first notice appeared on 3 November 1899 and called for volunteers who were to be unmarried, aged 21 to 35, over 5 feet 6 inches in height and of good physique. Perfect health was demanded with fair eyesight and serviceable teeth. Character had to be exemplary and habits temperate. Field uniform was provided for each man consisting of two khaki suits, one serge suit, one greatcoat, one worsted cap, two towels together with eating and toilet equipment and kit bag. In addition, each man was expected to supply for himself two sets of underwear, two flannel shirts, four pairs of socks, one pair of strong laced boots with spare laces, canvas shoes and Brigade uniform.



By 13 November, the first 23 men had arrived for kitting out at St. John’s Gate and embarked for South Africa on 21st November. They were followed by over 1800 men, about one fifth of the total strength of the Brigade. As all were volunteers, some Brigade divisions and Corps provided more men than others and the largest contingents over 100 men each came from London, Oldham and Bolton. In Oldham, 128 of the 226 members of the Ambulance Division were enlisted. These men usually signed on for periods of six months and served in a variety of posts including General, Stationary and Field Hospitals as well as Hospital Ships and Trains. They worked as stretcher bearers, orderlies, wardmasters, clerks and dispensers and were paid on RAMC scales. One quarter of the medical Orderlies serving in South Africa were St. John men.

Youren, although only 18 and technically too young to enlist, was one of those who responded to the call joining the Leeds Corps of St. John Ambulance. In total 67 men from this Corps served in the war. Youren was assigned to No. 9 General Hospital based in Bloemfontein for most of his service. This hospital was close to a Remount depot, which provided a considerable nuisance in the form of flies. A railway siding in the camp proved most convenient for the reception of patients. As a General Hospital, it had a capacity of 520 beds but within the first week this was exceeded and eventually the daily average tally of patients was 1400. The influx of patients occurred despite sending about 1000 convalescents to Base by ambulance train every week. The hospital had a staff compliment of 20 medical officers about 20 nursing sisters and 140 orderlies of which, as has been mentioned, Youren was one.



Conditions, aside from the flies, could not have been pleasant and there was a daily risk of exposure to typhoid, enteric fever, cholera and other complaints which beset an army on the march with poor rations. Added to this were the number of battle-related casualties which streamed in via the trains used for the purpose. Youren and his comrades would have been hard worked especially considering the fact that the number of patients admitted far exceeded the beds allowed.

After his six months was up, and having seen service in the Transvaal as well, he took his discharge on 12 October 1900 and set sail for England and home. An article headed ‘Leeds Ambulance Men’s War Medals” which appeared in the Leeds Mercury on Saturday, 27 May 1902 informed the reader that,

“The presentation of war medals to the men of the Leeds Corps of St. John Ambulance Association, who have recently (sic) returned from service in South Africa took place on Saturday, in the presence of a crowded gathering, in the Leeds Town Hall. In the absence, through indisposition, of the Lord Mayor, the presentations were made by the Lady Mayoress (Mrs. A.E. Butler), the recipients being L. Youren ……. etc. etc.”

The England census of 1901 confirmed that he was back on English soil – he had returned to the paternal home at 23 Barton View, Leeds. Apart from the obvious increase in age of his family things must have had a familiar look to Youren who now, at the age of 19, was together with the very same siblings Frederick George (20) and a Railway Clerk, Arthur (17) and a Merchant’s Clerk and young Francis who was now all of 10 years old. What of himself? He was back at his peacetime occupation of Railway Clerk.

Time, as the saying goes, waits for no man. Such was true for Youren who, at the time of the 1911 England census, had finally fled the family coop and was living with his bride of 3 years, Mary Swinbank in their own little spot – 49 Belvoir St. Prince’s Avenue, Hull. Now 29 his wife was slightly older than him at 32. That he was rising in the estimation of his employers and putting his early promise to good use can be borne out by an article that appeared in The Daily Mail of October 1912 – it was headed “N.E.R. CLERKS – NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT” and read (in part):

“A large number of the N.E.R. (North Eastern Railways) clerical staff gathered at the White Horse Hotel on Friday and heard an address by Mr Ainsworth of Leeds, on the National Insurance Act question. Mr L. Youren presided, and at the close of the meeting, a resolution was passed affirming the principles of execution.”

Further proof of his prowess came courtesy of the Newcastle Daily Journal of March 24, 1914. Titled “North Eastern Railway – Result of Essay Competition” it read,

“Sir A.K. Butterworth presided at the annual meeting of the North Eastern Railway Lecture and Debating Society, held last evening at York, when the awards in the essay competition, open to the whole staff, were announced as follows: General Manager’s prize for the best essay on a railway subject, l. Youren, chief goods managers office, York, for a paper on “Education”.”

Quite an achievement for a young lad who had “done his bit” as an Orderly in faraway South Africa – far from the comforts of home.
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That is a most handsome pair, Rory, getting much harder to find these days, expensive too, I do see, on occasion, the odd spit pair, a single QSA or a single St John medal here, but, only very seldom, a pair, very nice.

Frank Kelley wrote: That is a most handsome pair, Rory, getting much harder to find these days, expensive too, I do see, on occasion, the odd spit pair, a single QSA or a single St John medal here, but, only very seldom, a pair, very nice.

This is a great pair and the result of a reunite by a previous owner.

Nice write up Rory. well done

Good Morning Rory......

Would just like to add my thanks for a great piece of research......

Mike

Wonderful Rory - What a great Pair, and a write up to match. I will cross reference it with my material on Surgeon William Milton, No. 9 Hospital.
Reading your Posts are always informing and sometimes like this one - over the top.
Thanks BP

Rory
I know you must be tired of hearing it, but your have added another item to your collection that would fit well in mine. Thanks for posting this most interesting pair, and thanks also for the bat-friendly text.
Regards
Brett