Robert Young (soldier)

Major General Robert Young
Brigadier General Robert Young
Born	(1877-01-05)5 January 1877 Sunderland, England
Died	25 February 1953(1953-02-25) (aged 76) Otaki, New Zealand
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1898–1931 1941–1944
Rank	Major General
Unit	New Zealand Infantry Brigade New Zealand and Australian Division New Zealand Division New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches Légion d'honneur

Major General Robert Young, CB, CMG, DSO (5 January 1877 – 25 February 1953) was a dentist, volunteer soldier, World War I brigade commander and professional soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces.

A British immigrant who came to New Zealand as a child, Young later rose to serve as a General Officer Commanding, New Zealand Military Forces from 1925 to 1931. For service during World War I he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, mentioned in despatches, and was one of only 14 members of the New Zealand Military Forces to receive the French Legion of Honour during the war.

Born at Sunderland, England, in 1877 Young came to New Zealand with his parents as a child. The son of Reverend Robert Young, the Vicar of St Mark's in Carterton, he was educated at Nelson College and after further study began practice as a dentist. His history of military service began in 1898 when he joined the New Zealand Volunteer Forces, serving in the Amuri Mounted Rifles (which was subsequently absorbed into the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry). Following his marriage to Florence Ward in 1899 he settled in Marton and began service with the Royal Rifles, rising to the rank of captain in 1910 before the unit was incorporated into the new 7th (Wellington-West Coast) Regiment in 1911.

After the New Zealand Government declared war on Germany and made the decision to establish a New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) for overseas service, the Wellington Infantry Battalion was formed and began concentrating at Awapuni racecourse in Palmerston North from 12 August 1914. Young joined the unit in the Manawatu and was subsequently promoted to major and appointed Officer Commanding the 9th (Hawke's Bay) Company.