Gus Young (footballer)


Leo "Gus" Young was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League. Rated as a top forward early in his career, Young was killed in action in World War II during the Battle of Crete.

Military career and death

Young enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1940, and became a bombardier in 3 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RAA, Royal Australian Artillery. The unit was posted to Crete to protect RAF Heraklion from attack, and was involved in the German paratrooper attack that marked the beginning of the Battle of Crete. During the battle, Young was a member of a Bofors gun crew.
The battle quickly turned in the Germans' favor, as the Allies had problems with resupplying and communications. On 29 May, Young and his unit were evacuated from Crete on the destroyer, but the ship was bombed twice by Stuka bombers, with the second bombardment sinking the ship. Most aboard were rescued by MAS torpedo boats and the Italian destroyer Crispi, but Young was among the 48 Australians killed. Originally presumed missing, his status was changed to "presumed dead" soon after. His body has not been recovered, and he is remembered on the Australian War Memorial.