William Earnshaw, known as Bill, was the first son of Frederick Earnshaw & Mary Emily Stainsby born 1910 at Ryhope, Co Durham.
Bill was a pupil at Bede Grammar School, Sunderland. He was interested in
religion & one of his friends was a curate named Gerry. William, in his
early teens, & Gerry had returned from a ride on the curate’s motorbike
when Bill got off & slipped, falling against the kerb. He broke his coccyx
which gradually led to paralysis. His family have memories of him remaining
in good spirits after the accident & dashing about in a wheelchair. The
accident unfortunately led to his early death in June 1929 at the age of 19.