Colin Andrew Shaw Young (abt. 1933 - 1975)

Born about 1933 in Umtali, Manicaland, Southern Rhodesia

Died 29 Apr 1975 at about age 42 in Melsetter, Manicaland, Rhodesia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jenny Williams [send private message]

F R Colin Young was Killed in Action during Rhodesian Bush War.

Biography

PATU Badge

Birth & Upbringing: Colin was born 1933 in Umtali where he was raised.
Family: He married Anne, and they had two sons, Peter and Michael. He also had three brothers and two sisters. Colin's widow, Anne, later suffered an unfortunate incident in which she detonated an anti-personnel mine in the Umtali hills cordon sanitaire resulting in the loss of a leg. Michael, the one son, who carried his mother out of the danger area, was later murdered in a robbery shortly after Zimbabwean Independence. ^[1]
Education He did his secondary schooling at St. George's College in Salisbury. ^[2]
Military Service: The BSA Police was very much a para-military service and was the nation's first line of defense. Young policemen were thus thrust into armed conflict during the insurgency of the late 1960s and the decade which followed. Those who appear on the BSA Police Roll of Honour (War) are afforded full military honours in this Roll of Honour in the military sense.
Occupation: Forestry: After his schooling Colin worked in London for a time as a draughtsman, but returned to Rhodesia to start farming in Umvukwes (now Mvukwe). In 1959 he started his career in forestry. Part-time Policeman: He joined the BSA Police Reserve in January 1961; Reg.No.12461; served until April 1975. Colin was a member of PATU from 1966 until 1974 when he joined the Melsetter Back-Up Group.
Demise: Killed in action - contact and engagement with enemy while serving as a Field Reservist in Melsetter. ^{[3] [4]}. Colin set up a roadblock on the Ndima road into Ngorima Communal Land in response to an earlier incident involving the murder of a mobile banking teller. It was night-time and Colin was on duty when he noticed a person approaching, whom he challenged. The reply came in a burst from an AK 47 fired by Dhawayo and Colin fell, killed instantly. ^[5]
Burial: Colin was buried in the Melsetter (now Chimanimani) Cemetery following a semi-military funeral on 2 May 1975 ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ A Haggett & G van Tonder "Rhodesian Combined Forces Roll of Honour 1966-1981" ISBN 978-1-920143-75-6 based on the original Dr. JRT Wood citing Rhodesian Sitreps and other sources.
2. ↑ Obituary Notice Outpost 5/1975 Outpost Magazine: Journal of the BSA Police
3. ↑ Andrew Field: BSA Police Roll of Honour BSAP Website
4. ↑ Ibid Outpost Magazine
5. ↑ Ibid A Haggett & G van Tonder
6. ↑ findagrave.com Memorial 165269381

Last edited 12 Nov 2018 - AD Field