Arthur Singe

Arthur Percy Singe was born in Palmerston North.{{cite news When Singe enlisted in the army he recorded his birth date as 4 April 1895, which was not his actual birth date.{{cite news He was the chief focus of an article in the Auckland Star on 31 December 1903. Arthur was appearing in court charged with stealing a horse and cart belonging to George Mills along with ten packets of cigarettes from the same man. The description of Singe was "a tiny little chap under six years old" as he was stood in the box. It was stated that he was "a half-caste Chinese, and his father cooks at one of the city hotels". He was apprehended soon after the theft by a constable while struggling to control the horse in Newton. The boy said he was taking the horse home for his father and in the meantime he had been busy handing out the cigarettes to his friends. The sub-inspector stated that it was "simply ridiculous to charge a child at that age with theft". He went on to explain that Singe's mother was away from Auckland and his father was not able to control him and he "simply ran wild, and his father wished to have him sent to an industrial school". The Bench said that the police should have brought him up on some other charge and the case was dismissed.{{cite news He and his brothers were educated at the Marist Brothers school. They enlisted in the army they were living together with their mother on Browning Street, Grey Lynn, in Auckland. Arthur was working as a driver for Marriot & Co. in Parnell at the time.{{cite news == World War I ==

Arthur Singe enlisted in the army on 16 November 1915 at the age of 17 and served in the Auckland Mounted Rifles, A Squadron with his brother Albert.{{cite news Arthur went on to say he had secured a promise from a young French girl that she would keep the two graves in order for them. He described her as being "like a mother to us... but she is very young". Chaplain Captain Richards conducted the burial service.{{cite news Arthur was wounded in France some time in 1916 though the date was unknown. He rejoined his unit on 21 September of the same year.{{cite news On 6 February 1918, his military records show that he joined the XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion which was operating in France and "Cyclist Corps" is marked on his gravestone in Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden.{{cite news He was discharged from active service on 15 November 1919 and moved into the Drill Hall on Rutland Street, Auckland.{{cite news Singe was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. ==Playing career==

Rugby Union Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Little is known of Arthur Singe's early years playing the rugby game; however, after he returned from the war he and J O'Brien who had also played with him in the New Zealand Army team were acknowledged at their annual meeting on 22 March 1920. Brother Calixtus "on behalf of the members welcomed Messrs J O'Brien and A Singe back to the club". ==Personal life and death==

Arthur Singe married Hazel Lily (Lockwood) Plant on 3 August 1921 at Kingsland, Auckland. They had three children, Norma Marie Singe (1922–1986), Barbara Singe (1928–2004), and Arthur Barry Singe (1932–1999). It is unknown if his father William (who died in 1929) attended. Arthur died on 15 January 1936, aged 37. His cause of death was recorded as "general paralysis of the insane", a severe form of dementia.{{cite news Arthur's brother Frank moved to live in Wellington where he lived with his wife and children. A year to the day after Arthur Singe's death, Francis and his family placed a notice in the newspaper remembering Arthur. It stated "In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Arthur, who died on 15 January 1936. Ever remembered by Frank, Jessie, Mick and Shona".{{cite news After Arthur's death in 1936, his wife Hazel remarried on 1 August 1939 to George Geoffrey Plant. She died on 30 May 1997 in Auckland aged 93. Arthur's son, Barry Singe, played rugby league in Auckland too. He represented Auckland on several occasions. On 17 May 1953 he played for Auckland against the West Coast in a 12–2 win where he scored a try.{{cite news Arthur and his brothers were the subject of an article on the Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph on 7 February 2017.{{cite news ==References==