A big thank you to Alex Astle who was able to share with the club a biography about our former West Christchurch CC player cap number 56.
‘Educated at Palmerston North High School (1907-11), Charlie later studied at Canterbury University, graduating with BA and BSc degrees. At PNHS, he was a Prefect, record-setting athlete in long jump and 440 yards (1911), shooting champion, winner of the Sports Cup, and a member of both the 1st XV (1909-11, Captain 1911) and 1st XI cricket (1908-11, Captain 1911). As a cricketer, he was a stylist, free scoring batsman and effective medium-pace bowler. For the 1st XI, he scored five centuries – four in senior club cricket (highest 121* v. Manawatu A) and a superb 199 against Napier BHS, a school record only surpassed by Vic Pollard’s 216 also against Napier BHS in 1963. Both scores remain the two highest in inter-school fixtures. His total of five centuries has not been eclipsed, although five players have since equalled it, first by Monty Ongley (1928-32).
Amusingly, the 1909 Palmerstonian criticised him as ‘a most annoying man to bowl to, good defence, comes forward too much; has about two strokes, very keen at nets’. This understated his technique, which in 1911/12 enabled him to amass over 1000 runs at an average of 50 – a previously unseen performance senior Manawatu cricket. He was selected for Manawatu (1910-12) while still at school, scoring 274 runs at 30.4 in five matches, his highest102 v North Taranaki (1910), this the second only century in Manawatu’s history.
At PNHS prizegiving in December 1911, he received two trophies for rifle shooting, there were no cricket trophies at this time, and the Sports’ Championship Cup (equivalent to the later Dux Ludorum).
Players names not identified in the picture however C.L. Young middle row 2nd from the right.
Collection of NZCM
While at Canterbury University (1912-14), he represented their 1st XV and captained the 1st XI, scoring 200*. In 1914, he played for the South Island Universities against North Island Universities in Christchurch – the last major New Zealand cricket match until the end of WWI. During university holidays he returned to Palmerston North, assisting at PNHS due to wartime staff shortages and played senior cricket for Phoenix (Wednesdays) and HSOB (Saturdays).
In 1915, although nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship (the first PNHS student so recommended), and having begun teaching at Christ’s College Lower or Preparatory School (now known as Cathedral Grammar School), Charlie enlisted with the 8th reinforcements, serving in Egypt and France as a Second Lieutenant with the Maori (‘Pioneer’) Battalion. Returning to New Zealand in 1916 as a First Lieutenant, he soon returned to France to reorganise the Maori Battalion on the Somme, and was promoted to Captain in 1917. In 1918, he became an instructor in tactics and topography at the 3rd Army Infantry School. Although slightly wounded three times on the Western Front, he suffered most from gas poisoning, which damaged his lungs.
Before returning to New Zealand in 1919, he married Stephanie Bryan-Brown, later Headmistress of St Margaret’s College. Back in Christchurch, he completed his BSc at Canterbury University, and represented West Christchurch CC (Cap 56) with success in senior cricket scoring 685 runs at 27.
After completing his second degree, he rejoined Christ’s College in 1920 as Headmaster of the Lower School. A very popular and accomplished sportsman and educator, Charlie’s promising career ended prematurely when he died of pneumonia in February 1921, caused by complications arising from the gas poisoning. He was just 26, but in that time had fashioned a distinguished ‘scholastic, athletic and military career’.
Notes and additional reading
PNHS in 1920 became PNBHS, Canterbury College is now the University of Canterbury, Christ’s College lower school is now Cathedral Grammer.
Charlie was friends with Rev Guy Spencer Bryan-Brown also a West Christchurch CC Player Cap number 55, who was killed at Passendale, it was Guy’s sister Stephanie who he met and married. You can read more about Rev. G.S Bryan-Brown here
Stephanie Grace Young (nee Bryan-Brown) read more https://teara.govt.nz/mi/biographies/4y2/young-stephanie-grace/print
Charles Lefanu Young 0nline cenotaph record https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C32905?
Charles is one of two WWI burials at Waimairi Cemetery, Grahams Road, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM Block 2. Plot 42. (C. of E. Portion.) AWMM
Canterbury College team vs Otago University at Hagley Park (from photo above) on 26 November 1913 – scorecards on paperspast here and here