Frederick Henry Burwood

A Skipper with H.M. Drifter Dewey, Frederick died on 12th of August 1917 at the age of 29.

Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 10 August 1888, a son of William Henry and Alice Mary Burwood. Frederick was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 13 October 1889. In 1891 his family lived at Bishops Buildings, Whapload Road, and by 1901 they were living at 1 Saint Margaret’s Court. Later his family lived at 9 Saint Margaret’s Plain. 

On 19 March 1909 Frederick married Ivy Harriet Richmond at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Frederick was a fisherman living at 2 Clarence Road, and Ivy, lived at 65 Saint Margaret’s Road. By 1911 they were living at 13 Melbourne Road and Frederick was a herring fisherman. 

In early 1914 Frederick was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper. 

Frederick joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 February 1915 as a Second Hand and served on the trawler Eager. He was promoted to Skipper on 22 February 1915. From 16 March 1915 he was the Skipper of the trawler Feasible. Subsequently he took command of the drifter Dewey (this may have been as early as January 1916).

On 12 August 1917 the Dewey was sailing in the English Channel. The drifter collided with S.S. Glenifer, near the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel (some sources state that the Dewey was ‘run down’) and sank with the loss of ten crew.