Colonel David Butler Young was born in Aberdeen in August 1831 and originally entered the 18th Bombay Native Infantry as an Ensign in June 1850. Transferring into the 24th Bombay Native Infantry later that year, and shortly afterwards the 25th, he was advanced to Lieutenant in February 1854. Having first seen action in the Persia operations of 1857, he went on to serve at Calpee and in Morar with the Central Indian Field Force in the Mutiny. Appointed to the Bombay Staff Corps in January 1861, Young gained advancement to Captain in June 1862 and was present in the Abyssinia operations of 1867, which latter services resulted in a Mention in Despatches. Further promotion to Major and Lieutenant-Colonel followed in May 1869 and April 1878, but he saw no further active service and died in Calcutta in March 1884, having attained the rank of full Colonel.