Lawrence Barclay Young was born on the 30th April 1914 at 45 Laygate Lane, Westoe. South Shields. He was the youngest son of Robert John Young, [born 8th December 1882] and his wife Martha Elizabeth [nee Sparks] born 21st May 1884. They were married on the 17th March 1912 at St Mary's church, South Shields.

They had four children up to 1916. William Henry Young born 27th July 1909, Ernest James Young born 11th July 1911 in America and John George Young born 29th April 1916, there was a daughter Doreen Young born 23rd July 1923, she was a Female Shorthand Typist at a Photographers, also single.

By 1901, the family were residing at 107 South Palmerston Street, South Shields.

The family then resided at 45 Laygate Lane, South Shields by 1914.

Lawrence 'Larry' worked for his father's Haulage company transporting coal as well as other items, he joined the Police Fireman service in April 1938, and was based at the Worswick Street Station, Brigade Headquarters in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 1939, as a brigadesman.

Lawrence then resided at 73 Ashley Grove, West Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, after marrying a Mary Wright in March 1940.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Police was the Home office Police force and a Constabulary that served the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It was formed in 1836 when Newcastle was then one of Europe's biggest industrial cities. Of note was the name Newcastle upon Tyne City police and fire brigade. The first of the three locations in the following list were joint Police and fire stations... they were located at Pilgrim Street in the City Centre, Arthur's Hill, Headlam Street, and Red Barnes with section stations at Walker, Heaton, Kenton and Benwell village. Each foot beat also had a large Police Box where officers could rest and 'ring-in' to their main station and the public had access to a phone for advice or to summon help. At its peak Newcastle City had almost 1000 police officers.

On Monday, 5th and Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Some 386 enemy planes passed over the area in waves of about thirty every seven minutes or so, they were to 'blitz' Clydeside. At Newcastle, enemy aircraft were overhead for most of the alert period. Bombs fell at Newcastle, North Shields and Cullercoats in Northumberland, Cleadon, Annfield Plain and Blaydon in Co Durham and Hull in Yorkshire.

01.30.. Newcastle.. Twelve [H]igh [E]xplosives (bombs) in Heaton, Byker, Battlefield areas. Three were delayed-action type and exploded after a few minutes. Fifteen houses seriously damaged. Damage to east end police station. High Explosives at Apollo Cinema which was demolished, also damage to buildings in Shields Road West, Addison Street, Molineux Street, Tarset Street, Lime Street (three bombs - two in roadway, one on Newcastle Co-op, which was severely damaged), Shipley Street where all the fatalities occurred, Headlam Street and Fairless Street. Anti-personnel bombs did much damage to houses in Sandyford Road.

01.30. Newcastle. [I]ncendinary [B]ombs in Goldspink Lane, Sandyford set a warehouse on fire, [I]ncendinary [B]ombs also in Back Goldspink Lane, Doncaster Road and on Benton Golf Course. Fires were all brought under control in a short time. Four fatal casualties, thirteen seriously injured and twenty-three with minor injuries. Homeless were cared for at Victoria Jubilee Schools, Union Road for Byker area and St Dominic's School for Battlefield area.

Newcastle. An AA shell fell on a surface shelter at the back of Dinsdale Road, and another fell un-exploded in Kirsop Street, Jesmond Vale.

Source : 1939-45 North East Diary

On this day only 28 aircraft from Luftflotte 2, were involved in bombing Tyneside. Large fires were seen in Docks Installations in Newcastle, Hebburn and Wallsend in an attack lasting from midnight to 0200 hrs.

Newcastle Long after a bomb had exploded, the crater that remained was capable of dealing out death. A little seven year old girl, who had on this day, been playing among debris in Back Tarset Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, disappeared into a 10' deep bomb crater (possibly a camouflet), an 12 year old Boy Scout tied a rope around his body and went to her rescue. He also succumbed to the fumes and some adults who had witnessed the incident called for help. Two firemen who were passing by at the time promptly entered the crater in search of the children were also overcome by the gas, so the Fire Brigade were sent for.

Completely without protection against the fumes and fully aware that the previous attempts had proved fatal, Fireman Larry Young assisted by Leading Fireman Bruce descended into the crater in search of the victims. Leading Fireman Bruce collapsed in the poisonous atmosphere, but was rescued by Young, who then recovered the bodies of the other four victims.

Fireman Young was invested with the George Medal on 2nd December 1941 at Buckingham Palace. Leading Fireman Bruce was commended for his part in the rescue attempt and one of the victims, Auxiliary Fireman Wanless, was awarded a posthumous commendation.

Day 637. All times DST. Blackout ends: 04.36, begins: 23.31

On Saturday the 31st May 1941, there was a crater in no 28 Back of Tarset Street which had been covered over by planks and debris. This had been a result of the earlier bombing raids on the North East on the 5th/6th May 1941. At about 8.00 pm on the 31st May, Irene Page was playing at the back of some house's [no 28], being prepared for Demolition, and Debris and rubble around a gas filled crater when she fell in, which was about 10 feet (3 Metres) deep. A man called Mr Edwin Corbett of Tarset Street, was passing no 28, [his mother had lived in no 28 Tarset Street, noticing that the front door was open he went to shut it when he heard children in the back, he heard screams, so he went through the house and discovered that Irene had fallen though the hole], who arrived on the scene found the hole with two boys Ernest Smith [of Breamish Street], and another lad, he sent the lad for assistance to Red Barns A.1. Depot. at Crawhall Road. Mr Corbett obtained some rope from a Mrs Eleanor Johnson, as the hole was only about 30 inches (750mm) in diameter, Ernest Clifford Smith Clarke, a 12 year old Boy Scout, volunteered to go into the crater and search for Irene. When a rope was being tied around his body, Ernest took the matter in hand and said "Let me do it - I will tie it the Scout Way."

Willingly he tied a rope around him, and was lowered into the hole, he managed to get a rope around the little girl, it was first thought that he had fainted, but it became obvious that something more serious had happened. Screams brought many people to the crater area including two Auxiliary Fire Service men. Fireman John Scott Tulip, tried to rescue the boy and girl [his niece], but he became overcome by carbon monoxide fumes, and then George Wanless, based at Red Barnes arrived wearing a respirator, descended into the crater, rescued Ernest but he too succumbed and became unconscious.

Prior to this a man named Percy Wardle, [born 21st October 1901, married to Isabella P Wardle born 1st May 1909, residing at 11 Gibson Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne], with his civilian gas mask was going down into the hole but was stopped by George Wanless.

This day was also John Scott Tulip's day off and at about 8 pm, John looked into his billet and found the child he was to rescue was his niece.

Adult witnesses who were watching shouted for help.

After the arrival of the police, the fireman and Irene were got out of the hole by means of ropes. An ambulance no 4 from the East End station arrived at 8.14pm, with oxygen apparatus having been summoned first aid treatment was applied in the form of artificial respiration. It was a Mrs Mona Coxom who applied artificial respiration to Ernest Smith. They were then driven to Newcastle [Royal Victoria] Infirmary by Police Fireman Lawrence Barclay Young, but were dead on arrival at 8.30 pm.

At a Newcastle Inquest on the 11th June 1941. The Inquest praised the heroism of a 12 year old boy and two A.F.S. men, of whom one was off duty. Dr Richard Raper senior gas identification officer said the crater would contain a concentration of High Explosive fumes. Death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and asphyxia. The coroner, Sir Alfred Appleby said there was no lack of attention in the rescue work, but the authorities would in future rail off such places.

Mentioning the official reports regarding the courage shown by Auxiliary Fireman George Wanless, Leading Auxiliary Fireman George W. Bruce, and Regular Fireman Lawrence Young, the Coroner said he heartily supported the suggestion that the conduct of these men should suitably recognised. The general theory that the gas in the crater was sewer gas released from damaged pipes was not supported by the expert witness, Dr Richard Raper, Lecturer in Chemistry at King's College, who as Senior officer of Newcastle A.R.P., went down the 10 feet deep cavity to investigate the tragedies. After analysing samples of the air in the cavity, Dr Raper had no hesitation in declaring the carbon monoxide contents to be high explosive bomb fumes. Asked how these fumes happened to be still there after several weeks after the bombing. Dr Raper said the gas could not escape because the entrance to the crater apparently was immediately sealed up by debris of a wall demolished by another bomb. Leading Auxiliary Fireman Bruce, who lives in Sandringhm Road, Gosforth, said he descended the hole after tieing a wet towel round his face, as he realise his gas mark would give no protection in an atmosphere containing carbon monoxide. Robert E.C. Davidson A.R.P. rescue-squad chargeman, agreed that he and his men must have, without knowing it, walked over the concealed cavity time and time again after the bombing, while removing debris. He thought the hole must have been jammed by bricks and later loosened by excessive rains. Had he suspected there was a cavity still underneath, he would have had the place roped off. he said. Accidental death was the verdict in each case.

The Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence, Sir Arthur Lambert has been advised of the full circumstances of this tragic event. At the end of the inquiry the Coroner said: A relative of one of the deceased has very properly drew my attention to the fact that possibly the accident would not have happened has his property been railed off after the bombing. I quite agree, and am sure that the authorities benefiting from their experience in this case, will rail off any property bombed in he future.

The inquests were on Irene Page age 7, of Wansbeck Street who while playing among the debris in the backyard of a bombed house in Back Tarset Street, suddenly disappeared into a concealed bomb crater: a 12 year old Boy Scout, Ernest Smith, of 54 Breamish Street, who immediately volunteered to be lowered down into the hole by a rope, only to be gassed on reaching the bottom: Auxiliary Fireman John Scott Tulip (33), of St Ann's Row: and Auxiliary Fireman George Wanless (30) of Gibson Street.

Praising all who too part in the rescue attempts, the Coroner said the Boy Scout, who must have realised the danger, was "a little hero".

Gifts of £25 were presented on the 14th July by the Lord Mayor, Councillor A.D. Russell to the relatives of the four people who lost their lives. Mrs John Page, mother of Irene, Mrs Ernest Smith mother and the two widows of the two A.F.S. fireman who were also killed, at the Town Hall. The Mayor stated You have suffered through enemy action, we must blame the Germans for the whole thing, the Mayor continued and said Both your husbands were great heroes, then turning to Mrs Smith We are all agreed that your boy was wonderful.

Lawrence 'Larry' Barclay Young died on the 10th September 2008.

Lawrence Barclay Young is remembered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on NUT278.