Fred was born on 13th December 1900 in Halifax, Yorkshire to parents Richard and Martha and baptised in the new year, on 20th January 1901 at St John the Baptist, in Halifax.
Just a few months later the 1901 census was taken and Fred was recorded living with his mother and father at 3 Garden Street North, Halifax, aged 3 months old, their only child. 10 years later on the 1911 census Fred was aged 10 and had two younger siblings, Lily and Edgar. The family then lived at 2 Denton’s Street, Halifax.
Fred joined the Navy on 27th June 1916 as a Boy 2nd Class, training on HMS POWERFUL until 1st February 1917. He was just 5’1” tall, with brown hair and eyes and a young, fresh complexion. He rose in rating to Boy 1st Class on 9th December 1916 and was posted to HMS VANGUARD for 6 days, from 2nd February until 8th February 1917.
He returned to Chatham for a further week in February before being posted back to HMS VANGUARD on 18th February 1917 and was aboard when the ship exploded on 9th July.
Fred died aged just 16 years old. He was awarded the Victory and British medals following his death and is mentioned on a wooden panel in the very church he was christened in.
Memorial images courtesy of Liz Milne
#275 - 49/843
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910 West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/2/17
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 755
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0219
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0218
CWGC Register
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 007 (1914 - 1919)
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 95
Photo courtesy of The Halifax Courier
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