Frederick was born on 17th Feb 1899, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire to parents John and Ellen, the eldest of 6 children.
On the 1901 census Frederick was recorded, aged 2, living at Alleyns Road, Stevenage, his father working as a railway porter with the GNR. 10 years later on the 1911 census, Frederick is noted as attending school, aged 12, the family now living at 2 Huntingdon Road, Stevenage.
After leaving school, Frederick first worked as a News Lad
for W.H.Smith & Son before passing into the Educational Supply Association worked as a factory hand where he was very popular.
On the 17th March 1915 Frederick joined the Royal Navy as a Boy entrant, training at HMS GANGES in Shotley, Suffolk. He signed up for an initial 12 years service and was recorded as being 5 feet tall with brown hair and eyes and a scar in the centre of his forehead. Frederick rose to Boy 1st Class on 18th June 1915, leaving the establishment at the end of that same month, heading to HMS PEMBROKE II. He stayed until 25th August and embarked to HMS VANGUARD, his only ship, on 26th June 1915.
HMS VANGUARD saw action in the Battle of Jutland, within the fourth battle squadron, Frederick being aboard at the time and receiving a letter of thanks from Admiral Jellicoe of which he and his family were immensely proud. He rose in rank to Ordinary Seaman on his 18th Birthday, 17th February 1917, but was killed in the explosion in July.
#19 - 10/843
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 - FreeBMD
1901 & 1911 England Census - Ancestry.com
The National Archives Admiralty: Naval Casualties Class: ADM 242; 007
The National Archives Admiralty Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
CWGC Register
War Graves Roll TNA Series: ADM 242/7; 0048
The National Archives of the UK; England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 725
Western Front Association; Pension Record Cards; Reference: 002/0009
(pic1) Hertfordshire Express 28 July 1917
(pic2) http://www.hertsatwar.co.uk