A FUNERAL for a former SAS officer saw Hereford Cathedral full of mourners, paying tribute to Major David Young, who died aged 74.
Son Andrew said his father, who passed away on December 4, would have been too modest to enjoy the attention, saying he was simply doing his job - a job for which he was awarded the MBE.
The soldier whose funeral was on January 30, served for over thirty years, making what was described as an outstanding contribution to the Special Forces, in operations which included Northern Ireland, the high-profile siege at the Iranian Embassy, during the Falklands conflict and the first Gulf War.
He was well known for his humility and as his son added for: "Being an old school soldier."
David John Young was born in Perivale, west London, on February 28 1951 and enlisted in the Parachute Regiment at 18. After training he joined the 1st Battalion (1 Para), where, because of his distinctive red hair, he was known as Ginger.
What followed were more than two years of deployments to Northern Ireland (Operation Banner) and in 1973 he served a six-month tour in Cyprus as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force.
In 1976 he volunteered for 22 Special Air Service Regiment, and after completing the notoriously testing selection and training programme he was posted to the Mobility Troop of B Squadron.
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Young was involved in Operation Nimrod, the mission to retake the Iranian Embassy at Prince’s Gate in South Kensington in May 1980. Initially he volunteered to drive a coach containing the terrorists to an airport should it be required, but was also readied as a trained sniper.
During the Falklands crisis in 1982, Young was one of the soldiers who carried out extensive rehearsals for Operation Mikado, a planned SAS raid on the Rio Grande airfield in southern Argentina.
Major Young was later posted to Northern Ireland, where he worked with the RUC Special Branch and made a significant contribution, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches.
On promotion to Staff Sergeant in 1987 he transferred to A Squadron, where he remained until 1988, when he returned to B Squadron as Squadron Sergeant Major. In 1990 he was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), in which role he was heavily involved in the first Gulf War (Operation Granby).
During the first Gulf War this involved Young and his team in a host of tasks, including organising vehicles and moving supplies considerable distances from Saudi Arabia into Iraq. One resupply convoy he was involved in organising travelled more than 150 kilometres to resupply the men behind the lines.
In the desert the SAS quickly found that their clothing was inadequate to cope with the extreme cold, and as a result the quartermaster staff visited the local souk and purchased locally produced winter jackets and coats, which quickly made their way to the men operating behind the enemy lines.
As a result of his leadership and effectiveness during Operation Granby, Young was appointed MBE.
Between 1991 and 1993 Young was the RSM of 23 SAS Regiment (Volunteers), Territorial Army, following which he was commissioned. In 1995 he became Training Officer.
Young then fulfilled a number of essential quartermaster roles, including Staff Quartermaster Headquarters Director of Special Forces and culminating as Quartermaster 22 SAS before retiring in 2005.
He subsequently worked in a variety of jobs, many in the Middle East, but kept a low profile. Although he was proud of his service in the Parachute Regiment and the SAS he always insisted he was a soldier and that was his job.
He regarded his appointment as MBE for the first Gulf War as something of an embarrassment, believing that he was simply part of a superb team effort.
He is survived by his wife Barbara and by a daughter and son.
David Young, born February 28 1951, died December 4 2025
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