AIR GUNNER

Frederick was born in Gorton, Manchester on 19 January 1899, son of a blacksmith striker Frederick Cameron and his wife Elizabeth.

A boilermaker as a civilian, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman on 1 April 1915 and was transferred to the RNAS as a Boy Mechanic on 19 July 1915.

On 19 January 1917 Frederick was promoted to Air Mechanic 2. He served at Cranwell, Kingsnorth, Longside (October 1918) until he was transferred to Pulham in June 1919, less than a month before his death.

Frederick lost his life with the rest of the crew of N.S11 on 15 July 1919. His body was never found.

Service numbers: J37870/313043

Photograph of the entire complement or R. N. Airship Station Longside, January 1919 – from which the photograph of Frederick above was taken (he was marked on the back with a cross). The commander of N.S.11, Walter Warneford is in the front row, two places left of the dog. Photo kindly provided by Lesley Ross.

Frederick is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton. Photo: Helen Wallbridge.