Family of heroes in the Great War

Researching the Parry family of Gosford and I came across the story of the Young family of Gosford. When War broke out in 1914, the Young family consisted of the widowed mother, Louisa Morris and her four sons. Louisa lived in Gosford and was a daughter of Griffith and Mary Parry. Louisa had married Charles Young in 1886. There had been six children in all, but both daughters had died. 

Louisa was widowed in 1913.

24-year-old Charles was the first to join up. He enlisted in Brisbane in December 1914 and served in the 4th Australian Divisional Ammunition Culum.  He fought in the Gallipoli campaign where he was wounded in action. He recovered from his wounds and went on to serve in France as a gunner. He ended the war sick in hospital and was returned to Australia after the war ended.

The eldest boy, William was next to enlist. He was a married man of 28 when he joined up in Brisbane in February 1915. Reading his military records it looks like William did not fit in that well in the army. He served in the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion  and was reported missing in France in July 1916. Two weeks later he was confirmed as a POW in Germany. He returned to Australia after the war ended. It seems that William's capture saved him from a court martial for being AWOL too often! 

Next to enlist was 20-year-old Henry who signed up in January 1916. Henry served with the 5th Australian Light Horse in France and was awarded the Military Medal in May 1919. This was an award for bravery and outstanding conduct in action. I have not found the citation, but this must have been in the final stages of the war, because the award came after the armistice.

Not to be outdone, the youngest boy, Reggie enlisted in June 1916. He was 18. He followed his three brothers to the trenches of France where he served with the 56th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal in June 1918. Three moths later he was wounded in action. he recovered from his wounds, but he was until for further service and was repatriated to Australia and discharged.

All four brothers returned from the war. I have seen at least one online family tree that says that Charles was killed in France, but this is not correct (the military records clearly show his discharge in Australia). Both Henry and Reggie signed up again for WWII and both served in Australia, Henry in the army and Reggie in the airforce.

We can only imagine how these events affected the mother, Louisa. She is listed as the next of kin for three of the boys (William was married). By Christmas 1916, all four of her surviving children were on active service on the other side of the planet. She was clearly very proud of her boys and wrote to the war office asking for a 'mother's pin'.