In Newcastle upon Tyne (St. Andrew’s and Jesmond) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
H.A. Hollyer
Painter 2nd Cl. RN. M/5494,
H.M.S. “Indomitable”
25th June 1917 age 27.
He died as he lived
“Lion-hearted”.
Ever in our thoughts
Mum, Dad and All
The son of Matthew George and Annie Hollyer, of 12, Norfolk Road, Higham Hill, Walthamstow, London.
Royal Victoria Infirmary Coroner’s Report No 315 26th June 1917:
Henry Arthur Hollyer aged 27 years. Leading Seaman H.M.S. Indomitable. Home address, No 12 Norfolk Road Higham Hill, Walthamstow, London. E17. Died in 1st Northern General Hospital at 5.50pm on Monday 25th June 1917.
The Jury returned a verdict of Wilful [sic] Murder against William Cavanagh Alias William James Thompson.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 28/06/1917 reports:-
WEST STREET STABBINC AFFAIR.
Man Charged With Murder of a Seaman.
At Newcastle Police Court, yesterday, William James Thompson, 29, was charged with the murder of Henry Arthur Hollyer, a leading seaman, whilst in the house, 1, West Street.
The Chief Constable (Dr. J. B. Wright) stated that the accused was before the court, on the 21st inst. charged with having unlawfully wounded Hollyer. At the time the injured person was in a critical condition. He had since died, and the accused had been re-charged with murder. After hearing the evidence, he would ask the magistrates for a further remand, pending the instructions of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Supt. Tedlie stated that yesterday morning he saw the accused in the Central Police Station where he charged him with murdering Hollyer. Accused made no reply. The superintendent added that Hollyer died on Monday night at the First Northern General Hospital, and the inquest opened on Tuesday night, was adjourned until July 11. Thompson was remanded until July 5.
The Newcastle Journal 15/12/1917 reports:-
THE NEWCASTLE MURDERER.
Date of Execution Fixed.
The execution of William Cavanagh, who was sentenced to death at the recent Newcastle Assizes for the murder of Henry Arthur Hollyer, naval seaman, has been fixed for Tuesday morning next. The petition for a reprieve for the condemned man has been extensively signed, both on Tyneside and in Glasgow, where he was well known, and has been dispatched to the Home Office by Messrs Bennett and Maddison, Newcastle, Cavanagh’s solicitors.
The Shepton Mallet Journal 21/12/1917 reports:-
EXECUTION AT NEWCASTLE.
William Cavanagh (29) was executed at Newcastle Tuesday morning for the murder of Henry Arthur Hollyer, a naval seaman belonging to Walthamstow, by stabbing him in an affray in a Newcastle house last June. Pierpoint was the executioner.
Henry Arthur Hollyer is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.
