Youngest British service death in World War II. At 14, he lied about his age to join Britain's Merchant Navy during the war. He served as a cabin boy aboard the SS North Devon for a few months until it was attacked by German airplanes on July 6, 1941. He died in service at the age of 14 years and 152 days. He was officially declared the youngest known British service casualty of WWII by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on February 5, 2010, which would have been his 83rd birthday.
Youngest British service death in World War II. At 14, he lied about his age to join Britain's Merchant Navy during the war. He served as a cabin boy aboard the SS North Devon for a few months until it was attacked by German airplanes on July 6, 1941. He died in service at the age of 14 years and 152 days. He was officially declared the youngest known British service casualty of WWII by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on February 5, 2010, which would have been his 83rd birthday.
Bio by: Dustin Oliver
Inscription
R. EARNSHAW
BOY
S.S. NORTH DEVON
6TH JULY 1941
AGE 14
(CROSS)
REMEMBERED WITH PRIDE
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN
THAN THIS, THAT HE
WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE
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