young went ashore on day two of the invasion, and became director of public safety in the first functioning allied military government - the allied control commission for italy; in december 1943 he was given the additional role of director of security, responsible directly to the commander-in-chief for hunting saboteurs and enemy agents as well as the removal of fascist officials from public offices. in italy, young commanded not just british officers but the 120,000 men of the entire italian police and had responsibility for all italian prisons, fire brigades and civil defence. the models young developed in italy were later applied across allied occupied europe in 1944–1945, but his proudest achievement was the restoration and reorganisation of the carabinieri, with whom he maintained an association for the rest of his life. he also fell in love with italy, returning regularly and frequently holidaying in positano and visiting his wartime friend colonel alfredo "freddy" zanchino of the carabinieri.