Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William James Whittle, an auctioneer, valuer and land agent, born 1856 in Scalford, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Whittle (nee Mills, married on the 16th August 1883 in St. Mark’s Church, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire), born 1858 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, and who was the daughter of Charles Mills. Harold Worsley Whittle was born in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in Syston, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Horace Mills, born 1885, William Norman, born 1886, George Angus, born 1887 and Ronald Leslie, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Syston, in April 1891 the family home was at The Green, High Street, Syston. In March 1901 Harold was residing in the family home at 38, Regent Street, Leicester, together with his father, an auctioneer, valuer and land agent, his mother and siblings, Horace, an auctioneer’s clerk, William, a hosiery warehouse assistant, George, Ronald, Walter Kenneth, born 1895 and Roland Oliver, born 1896, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. In April 1911 Harold was an officer, and was residing in the family home at 5, West Street, Leicester together with his father, an auctioneer and valuer, his mother and siblings, Horace, a cashier and book keeper, William, a manager and traveller, Walter, a clerk, and Roland a schoolboy. In the 4th quarter of 1914, Harold married Jeannie Carter in the Thanet, Kent district.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour in which Harold is shown to have been a pupil at the school between the years 1899 and 1904.
On Saturday January 23rd 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – DEATHS. WHITTLE – Harold Worsley (Lieut. R.N.R.) O.H.M.S., off Deal, at 1:00am., January 16th, aged 25 years. In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LEICESTER LIEUTENANT DROWNED. – SAD TERMINATION TO A PROMISING CAREER. The death is reported of Lieut. Harold Worsley Whittle, of the Royal Naval Reserve, who is supposed to have lost his life by the sinking off Deal on Saturday last, of the Government patrol boat Char, during a heavy gale. The boat was endeavouring to overhaul a vessel, believed to be the Erivan, a Belgian petroleum tank steamer of 2,365 tons, for the purpose of examining it when she got across its bows and was badly damaged below the water line. The cries for help could be heard on the Erivan, but the patrol boat seems to have drifted away in the dark, and the Erivan itself was so badly damaged that it could not lend any assistance. The Char carried a crew of 12 or 14 men, all of whom are supposed to have perished. Among them were four naval men who were recently rescued by the Deal lifeboat when the liner Montrose went ashore on the Goodwin Sands. The Erivan sent up rockets for assistance, and in reply the Deal lifeboat was launched with considerable difficulty. The lifeboat searched for the Char for some hours without success, and afterwards stood by the damaged Erivan until daybreak, returning to Deal after an absence of 12 hours. Lieutenant Whittle, who was serving on the Char, when at home resided at 1, Tichborne Street, Leicester, and was only married in November last. His wife has received a letter from the Commanding Officer at Ramsgate, stating that the whole area between the Forelands has been searched without any trace being discovered of the Char or her crew. The latter states that it is feared all hope must be given up, and expresses sympathy with Mrs. Whittle. Lieutenant Whittle who was only 25 years of age, was educated at the Wyggeston School, and entered the merchant service at the age of 15, serving his apprenticeship on sailing vessels. He later entered the steamship service and served on the Strath Line boats. He obtained his masters certificate in May 1913, and entered the service of the Canadian Northern Railway, serving on HMS Royal Edward and Royal George. On the outbreak of the war he volunteered for special service, and was appointed with the rank of lieutenant, to the Downs Boarding Flotilla, the duties of watch were to patrol the Downs and overhaul all ships which passed. The many Leicester people who knew Lieutenant Whittle will learn with deep regret of the untimely close to a very promising career.