With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

War grave unveiled for WWII boy (Scotland)

A memorial to one of the youngest British service casualties of the World War II has been unveiled by his former friend and shipmate.

Reginald Earnshaw was "about 15" when he died under enemy fire aboard the SS North Devon exactly 68 years ago.

It is widely believed he lied about his age in order to serve his country - and evidence suggests he may been just 14.

The location of Mr Earnshaw's grave was never reported to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or marked with a headstone until recently, when a simple wooden cross was erected as a temporary marker.

Read entire article at BBC