A hero can be any age
by admin on Jul.06, 2009, under Historical Heroes
Dewsbury-born merchant seaman Reggie Earnshaw’s death certificate says he was “about 15″ when he was killed aboard the SS North Devon in the Second World War.
But it is now thought he may only have been 14 – the youngest British service casualty of the war.
Like many young men in WWII, Reggie most likely lied about his age in order to enter the service. His death certificate lists his birth year as 1926, but after some research, it was discovered that no one by the name of Reggie Earnshaw was born that year in his hometown. However, a birth certificate issued a year later does carry the name of Reggie Earnshaw.
Reggie lost his life after a German air attack on the SS North Devon. He became trapped in the engine room, unable to free himself.
Mr (Alf) Tubb, now 86, said: “I only knew young Reggie for a short time but we were good friends. It still upsets me to think of a young lad trapped inside that engine room. I couldn’t save him.”
Read this article that commemorates such a brave young soul.
