Forename: Robert Emmanuel
Surname: Young
Rank: 1st Class Boy
Regiment: Royal Navy
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
Robert Emmanuel Young was the twin brother of James Young, born on 10 September 1924. Their parents were Mr and Mrs H Young, who sadly died when the boys were 8. Robert and his brother lived at Cheltenham Boys’ Home in St Margaret’s Road and attended St Paul’s Practising School from September 1931 – August 1939. They were good swimmers and gained life-saving qualifications while at school. They enlisted in the Royal Navy after leaving school and became 1st Class Boys on the HMS Prince of Wales, being sent to Singapore. The ship, along with the HMS Repulse, was attacked by Japanese forces and repeatedly attacked until sunk on 10 December 1941. Robert and James were two of 762 seamen who lost their lives. They mirror the fate of twins Edward and Harry Turner, also alumni of St Paul’s Practising School, who lost their lives on board HMS Good Hope on 1 November 1914. Both Robert and James are commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.