Youngest serving British casualty of WWII

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh, East and Fife | War grave officially identified

I hope to be present at Comley Bank Cemetery for the unvailing of this young boy's headstone by the CWGC on Monday 6th July 2009. Until recently it was thought that the youngest serving casualty of WWII was Raymond Steed aged 14 years and 207 days but after some work by the Mercantile Marine forum it has been found that Reginald Earnshaw was 14 years and 152 days old when he was killed.

I will get a photo of the grave and post it on here.

Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks Hugh,

This is the first that I have heard of someone truly tracking down the ages. Steed as far as most were concerned was the youngest. Now we have someone younger still!

The laying of the gravestone should be a very teary day indeed.

Look forward to the photo.


Cheers

Geoff

 

I am one of a small group of researchers who over the last four years has helped compile the information regarding Reginald Earnshaw and his loss from the North Devon, which has been forwarded to Alf Tubb and the CWGC.

Back in 2005 it was brought to my attention that a Merchant Seamen named Reginald Earnshaw commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 74 from the SS North Devon killed 6th July 1941 and he may have been buried ashore. After searching for records at Kew for the ships Official Log Book, it was discovered his body was found in the ships alleyway after being attacked by enemy forces. To verify his body was landed ashore I obtained a copy of his death certificate to prove this and he was registered at Cleethorpes reference 7a 1170. More research by Mr. Bill Watt found he was buried at Comely Bank Edinburgh Section P Grave Space 440. (Details from Edinburgh City Council Phone No 0131 664 4314 Morton hall Edinburgh) and a temporary cross was erected marking the plot. This information was submitted to the CWGC and our combined efforts and findings were accepted this year.

There was also some confusion over his age. The ships Log Book had Reginalds date of birth as 5th February 1926 in Dewsbury and his death certificate has him aged about 15. Only problem being there was no birth registered at Dewsbury for Reginald Earnshaw in 1926, but there was one registered in Dewsbury in the March quarter 1927 in Volume 9b page 864. Having obtained a copy of the birth certificate in April 2009, I can verify he was born the 5th February 1927, so the Log Book shows an error of exactly one year to the day, which made him 14 years 152 days old when he was killed as to Raymond Steeds 14 years 207 days, who at present is officially recorded as the youngest serving casualty of WWII.

I have been in touch with the Commission just last week regarding his true age and have submitted both his birth & death certificates in the hope his true age will be added to his headstone in time.

 

Thanks for sharing that Billy. This is a very interesting story! Regardless of the few days difference it is remarkable that these young men were willing to step forward with their elders. Reminds me of our civil war when many children wormed their way into the armies.

 

He's not British though!
But out of the Allies, the yougest servise man that was a casuatly during ww2 was a 12 year old US servise man/boy (Calvin Graham).

Amazing Wartime Facts from WWII
Number 4!

True or not,i have no idea!

PS-Thanks AA for finding the thread for me.

 

That's fascinating Billy ! ... congratulations to you and the group ... a great job well done !

I've just started researching a 16 year old .... I have a long way to go yet !

I'd love to see the photos when you go Hugh ..... !

Annie

 

He was not killed either which was possibly meant by "casualty" in the context of this thread!

He was on the USS South Dakota and was injured by schrapnel and received medals including the Purple Heart which was taken off him but finally reinstated two years after his death in 1992.

 

I recently completed writing a book "They Shall Grow Not Old..." dedicated to over 500 boys age 16 and under who died in service with the Merchant Navy during WWII including fifteen boys age just 14 years old. The book is just about complete and I have been adding photographs of the graves of the boys I have been able to find. So far I have obtained 11 photos of the 20 boys lucky enough to have a grave. I am awaiting a photo of Reginald's grave before submitting to my publisher.

If the 16 year old you are looking for was lost in the MN, let me know his name and I will send you any details I have.

 

Thank you very much Billy for your offer but my lad was WW1 and a soldier !

Good luck with your book ... sounds like another one for the "wish list " !!

Don't forget to tell us when it's available .....

Annie

 

Thanks, Spidge. I should have used my words more carefully.

Billy, Welcome aboard!

Regards
Hugh

 

Billy, do you have anything on this lad:

CICILIA, CLAUDIO BENEDICTO Initials: C B Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Mess Room Boy Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy Unit Text: S.S. Punta Gordo (London) Age: 16 Date of Death: 18/09/1944 Additional information: Son of Pablo Pedro Cicilia and Cornelia Cicilia, of Bonaire, Netherlands West Indies. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 85. Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

Have not been able to find info on his ship - also spelt as Punta Gorda on the cwgc
Hope you can help, regards, jerome

 

Jerome,

SS Punta Gorda (London) - Mercantile Marine

Regards
Hugh

 

Hugh, Many thanks for the link - I take it Gorda is the correct spelling.
Regards
Jerome

 

All the best with the book, Billy.

 

Tanker Punta Gorda, 2,395grt, (Lago Shipping Co.) On the 18th September 1944 loaded with a with a cargo of crude oil on voyage from Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela to Aruba the ship was in a collision with the Belgian tanker Ampetco II. The Punta Gorda caught fire, blew up and broke in two before sinking five miles off Cape San Roman, Venezuela in position 12’ 15N 70’ 04W with the loss of 20 crew.

Tower Hill Panel 85.

CHARLES, Pumpman, JOSEPH IRA, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 33. Son of Conrad J. and Elizabeth Charles.

CICILIA, Mess Room Boy, CLAUDIO BENEDICTO, S.S. Punta Gordo (London). Merchant Navy. 18th Sep-tember 1944. Age 16. Son of Pablo Pedro Cicilia and Cornelia Cicilia, of Bonaire, Netherlands West Indies.

DE PALM, Fireman, HUBERT, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 24. Son of Ciriaco Companjero De Palm and Faustina Martilia De Palm, of Bonaire, Netherlands West Indies.

DELGADO, Steward, LUIS ENRIQUE, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 23.

DELLIMORE, Quartermaster, JOHN MAITLAND, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 41. Husband of Nellie Dellimore, of Kingstown, St. Vincent, British West Indies.

FARRELL, Sailor, DESMOND, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 22. Son of Arnold and Jestina Farrell.

HOLMES, Second Officer, FRANK WILFRED, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 23. Son of Francis Alexander Holmes and Mabel Florence Holmes.

LEES, Chief Engineer Officer, DAVID BRUCE BROWN, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 43.

MARTIJN, Quartermaster, DOMINICO, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 24. Son of Bernardus Anthon Martijn and Emelia Petronilla Martijn, of Bonaire, Netherlands West Indies.

MAXWELL, Sailor, ANDREW JAMES, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 31.

MILLS, Third Engineer Officer, JAMES, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 40. Son of James and Elizabeth Mills; husband of Amy Mills, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

MITCHELL, Second Engineer Officer, ROBERT, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 36. Son of David Mitchell, and of Helen Forbes Mitchell, of Arbroath, Angus.

McMASTER, Master, WILLIAM, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 44. Son of William and Jane McMaster; husband of Annie A. McMaster, of Island Magee, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.

PING YU HONG, Chief Steward, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 30.

RICHARDSON, Fireman, GEORGE REUBEN, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 33.

RIDGE, Chief Officer, JOHN ALFRED, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 46. Husband of J. E. Ridge, of Fulking, Sussex.

SIMMONDS, Assistant Cook, BENJAMIN EZEKIEL, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th Sep-tember 1944. Age 34. Son of James and Beatrice Simmonds, of Basseterre, St. Kitts, Leeward Islands.

WOODS, Quartermaster, ANTONIO DURAN, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 27. Son of Moses and Horton Woods, of Saba, Netherlands West Indies.

WOODS, Quartermaster, HENRY SWINTON, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 43.

YUNG WONG TEK, Chief Cook, S.S. Punta Gorda (London). Merchant Navy. 18th September 1944. Age 39.

 

Thanks Billy

 

Video link to Reginald Earshaw ceremony today

BBC NEWS | Scotland | War grave to honour WWII boy

 

Very touching Billy !

Thank you for sharing young Reggie with us !

RIP to the young man in from the cold

Annie

 

Recognition at last for one of the boy's who gave up his youth and his life for his country.

Well done to all concerned for bringing this lasting memorial to fruition.

 

Another video link

Memorial to one of Britain's youngest fallen servicemen unveiled | Edinburgh and East | STV News