242278 Sgt. John William Earnshaw British Army 8th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (d.1st July 1916) Today I became the custodian of my great grandad's medals (Pip, Squeak and Wilfred). They were awarded posthumously after the war. My Grandfather was only 3 months old when his father was killed so he never knew him. In 1939, my grandfather attempted to sign up to avenge the death of his father, but being a coalminer and reserved occupation, his application was denied. The only closure he got was when I took him to the "Adanac" cemetery in France, ironically, the date by pure chance was July 1st.
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