WEDS PM: 14-year-old Dewsbury sailor 'youngest killed in WWII' new research shows
It has since emerged that Reggie was born in Dewsbury, but his last known address was in Edinburgh.
His final resting place at Comely Bank is close to where he lived in the Granton area of the city.
There are no known living relatives but the commission is appealing for any family members to get in touch.
Mr Tubbs, from Swansea, said he is glad his friend’s grave is soon to be identified properly.
"The most important thing to me is that he gets a fitting headstone," he said.
"I’m glad that after all these years, the sacrifice of such a young man - my pal - will be properly marked."
The ceremony in Comely Bank Cemetery is on Monday July 6.
The commission, which is responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the Commonwealth forces killed during both world wars, is investigating Reggie’s case to try to establish his age.
His death certificate says his date of birth is February 5 1926, but those who have looked into the matter can find no record of Reginald Earnshaw’s birth in Dewsbury on that date.
They did however find a Reginald Earnshaw born exactly one year later.
If Reggie did lie about his age then he is the youngest British man to die serving his country during the Second World War - at 14 years and 152 days.
The youngest serviceman recorded at the moment is Raymond Steeds, another merchant seaman who died aged 14 years and 207 days.
