Biography of Frank Singleton 1899-1918

Before 15 Nov 1899 [his father] Joseph Singleton (age 34) and [his mother] Susannah Jane Beverly (age 31) were married.

On 15 Nov 1899 Frank Singleton was born to Joseph Singleton (age 34) and Susannah Jane Beverly (age 31) at Little Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].

31 Mar 1901. Census. Little Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].

[his father] Joseph Singleton (age 35). Head. 35. Coal Carter. Born in Hyde, Cheshire.

[his mother] Susannah Singleton (age 33). Wife. 33. Born in Hope, Derbyshire.

Frank Singleton (age 1). Son. 2. Born in Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].

On 21 Apr 1905 Frank Singleton (age 5) was baptised at St Matthew's Church, Hayfield [Map].

02 Apr 1911. Census. Little Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].

[his father] Joseph Singleton (age 45). Head. 45. Labourer (Paper Works). Born in Hyde, Lancashire.

[his mother] Susannah Jane Singleton (age 43). Wife. 43. 22 years married. Born in Hope, Derbyshire.

Frank Singleton (age 11). Son. 12. School. Born in Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map].

Three other children.

In 1914 Frank Singleton (age 14) joined the Notts and Derby Regt (no 2998) as a Territorial Force soldier in 1914.

On 23 Jul 1918 Frank Singleton (age 18) was killed in action serving with the 1/8th Battalion Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment). Service Number 331065. He was buried at the Marfaux British Cemetery, Marne, France.

From the web:

The 1/8th spent 1916 in support of their division. Often they could see the work of a week destroyed in just a few minutes of shelling. Despite the setbacks, they honed their efficiency such that a team of 9 could erect 50 yards of barbed wire barrier in just 9 minutes and the 1/8th trained their division to match this standard. In 1917 it had spells with the 12th and 4th divisions and then had a particularly trying spell at Ypres: roads, railways, trenches, and dug-outs were built under shelling and the new peril of gas attacks.

In March of 1918 the battalion was in line standing off the advancing Germans. Their ability to entrench and wire as well as fight was all that saved them several times: over 200 casualties were recorded in the space of five days. In April they lost another 174 in similar fluid fighting. A month later they recorded 12000 yards of 8×6 foot trenching and 23000 yards of wire constructed – on top of their normal duties. The last months of the war were spent on the offensive, often in open countryside, celebrating the Armistice in quarters near Cambrai. Early in 1919 they were in Belgium with demobilisation underway and the cadre of the battalion was welcomed home to Haddington on 30th April 1919.

During its service the 1/8th battalion recorded 1669 casualties, including 309 fatalities or missing.

Hayfield War Memorial [Map]. Side 4:

Redfern Jabez H B

Redfern Tom

Richardson Harold R,

Robinson Ughtred H

Roebuck Albert

Shaw Hubert

Singleton Frank

Smith George

Thompson Willie

Towler Herbert

Tyrer Tom

Wardle William

Waterhouse Charles

Waterhouse Fred. Second cousin of Charles Waterhouse ie same great-grandfather William Waterhouse.

Waterhouse Joe. Eldest brother of Charles Waterhouse above.

Waterhouse Willie, Wogan Edward, Woolley James S, Handford Joseph N.

Ancestors of Frank Singleton 1899-1918

Frank Singleton

GrandFather: James Beverly

Mother: Susannah Jane Beverly