Born: 1896, Midgley
Died: 22 February 1917, Boulogne
Buried: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
Address: 3 Ashgrove, Greengates
Parents: Joseph & Emma
Spouse:
Siblings: Ada, Fred, Edith, James, Annie
Occupation: Painter’s apprentice
Organisations/clubs: Choir, bell ringer, Apperley Bridge AFC
Military
Rank: Signaller
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Greengates
Children:
Regiment: Sherwood Foresters
Albert Earnshaw
Albert was born in Midgley in
1896, shortly after which the family
moved to Eccleshill. Whether that
was before or after his father,
Joseph, died we don’t know but
certainly by the 1901 census Emma
was a widow living with her family
at Stockhall Fold.
Ten years later they had moved to
Greengates and Albert was working
as a painter’s apprentice.
On 2 March 1917, the Shipley
Times & Express reported:
Deep sympathy will be felt with
Mrs Earnshaw of 52 Ashgrove,
Greengates, in the loss she has
sustained in the death of her
youngest son, Albert Earnshaw of
the Sherwood Foresters,
who died in hospital in
France on February
22nd from bronchitis
Signaller Earnshaw who
was 21 years of age,
enlisted in February
1916, went to France on
Christmas Day and was
taken ill on the 10th
February.
He was very highly
respected in the village and was
connected with the Parish Church,
being a former member of the choir
and one of the bell-ringers He was
also a scholar in the Sunday School
He was a popular member of the
Liberal Club and as a
token of respect the flag
at the club is hoisted at
half-mast.
He was an ardent lover
of sport and played
regularly with the
Apperley Bridge AFC
and other junior
organisations
The news of Signaller
Earnshaw’s death was
conveyed in a letter from Sister
Woodward who wrote: “I am sorry
have to write to tell you that your
son died last night soon after nine
o’clock. He became much worse in
the afternoon, soon after I had
previously written to you, and died
quietly in his sleep. He did not
suffer any pain but he was very
weak and exhausted.
“He had been with us just a week
and though he was very ill he
hoped he might get over his illness
but yesterday he became much
worse and we knew there was no
hope for him.”
Since the death of Signaller
Earnshaw became known, his
mother has been the recipient of
many messages of sympathy and
condolence and we are asked to
extend her thanks to those who
have so kindly expressed their
sympathy in her sad bereavement.
