Alfred Young enlisted into the Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) before volunteering for airborne forces.He qualified as a military parachutist on course 13 at RAF Ringway to 21 May 1942. The course ran from 6 -21 May 1942.

Private Young was posted to 1 Platoon, R Company the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (1 Para Bn).

Private Young went to North Africa on Operation Torch. He also saw action in Sicily and Italy before returning to the UK.

In 1944 Pte Young represented his battalion in boxing. He fought at Flyweight and won his bout in the 1944 1 Airborne Division Individual Championships.

1 Para Bn jumped onto the Renkum Heath, Arnhem on Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944.

Lance Corporal Young was taken a Prisoner of War and sent to Stalag 12A at Limburg, Germany.

L/Cpl Young was demobbed in May 1946.