He took part in the reconquest of Sudan, and afterwards went to South Africa, joining the Cape Police as an instructor, with the rank of regimental sergeant major, serving in the Second Boer War.

[2] Young was 28 years old and a sergeant-major in the Cape Police, South African Forces during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Towards the close of the action at Ruiter's Kraal on the 13th August, 1901, Sergeant-Major Young, with a handful of men, rushed some kopjes which were being held by Commandant Erasmus and about 20 Boers.

Sergeant-Major Young then galloped on some 50 yards ahead of his party and closing with the enemy shot one of them and captured Commandant Erasmus, the latter firing at him three times at point blank range before being taken prisoner.

[3]Continuing with the Cape Police, from 1904 Young served on the border with German South West Africa during the Herero Wars, and in 1906 helped suppress the Bambatha Rebellion in Natal.