Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium
(served as William HOLLEY). Born at Santander, Spain,
where his father was Vice-Consul. Son of the late, Jersey
born, Winter William Single and Jane Ann Case of 32
1/2 Hue Street, St Helier. Former employee of A De Gruchy's.
Originally joined the Royal Navy prior to transfer
to the Wiltshires.
Died of wounds, aged 23 years.
Harold SINGLE was in the Royal Navy as
the line "Originally joined the Royal Navy prior
to transfer to the Wiltshires" states, however,
his naval service record suggests a different story.
Born at Santander in Spain on the 13th
August, 1894, he enlisted for the period of hostilities
on 27th July, 1915. Allocated the service number L7152,
he joined HMS Victory I, a shore establishment at Portsmouth,
as an Officer's Steward - 3rd Class. He was on HMS Victory
I for approximately four weeks before being sent to
HMS Magpie on 24th August, 1915. It is believed that
HMS Magpie was a boom defence vessel at Great Yarmouth.
Just over four months later, on 27th December,
1915, Harold's record has the annotation "Run",
and there are no further entries. Certainly, there are
none that indicates that a formal "Transfer"
from the RN to the Wiltshire Regiment had taken place.
He had thus deserted from the Navy, and it might be
assumed that he had wanted to see more action in the
Great War than he might have experience onboard HMS
Magpie!
Why, if a "Transfer" had taken
place, did he assume the alias of HOLLEY (which we had
assumed was his mother's maiden name)**?
We have been informed that his mother's
maiden name was "Case"
Notice of Death appears in Jersey
Evening Post of Monday 10 June 1918
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Monday 10 June
1918
Roll of Honour. After being without news
for some eight weeks Mrs Single of Hue Street has received
news that her son, Private Harold Winter Single of the
Wiltshire Regiment, died of wounds on 18 April. The
deceased soldier, who was in his 24th year, joined up
shortly after the outbreak of war in the Royal Navy
and later transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment. He
was formerly employed at A de Gruchy & Co and was
a most popular and highly respected townsman. He had
been wounded during the campaign but on recovery returned
to the Front, where he has now been called upon to make
the supreme sacrifice. We tender the mother and other
members of the family our heartfelt sympathy in their
sorrow.
