Frederick Robert Cumberledge Engineer Officer Merchant Navy

Frederick Robert Cumberledge Engineer Officer Merchant Navy. He served as Engineer Officer Merchant Navy during WW1 and was torpedoed in WW2 by a German U-Boat

Frederick Robert Cumberledge 1884-1943 3rd Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy during WW1 & WW2

Frederick Robert Cumberledge served as a 3rd Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy during WW1. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine and British War medals.

Frederick Robert Cumberledge was born on 21 November 1884 in Dover, Kent, England. He was the only son of William Cumberledge and his wife Martha Jane nee Burridge.

He was physically described as:

• 5’ 10½” in height
• Grey eyes
• Fair hair
• Fresh complexion
• No distinguishing marks

Frederick married Beatrice May Flower in 1920 in Somerset, England. Together they had:

• Phyllis M Cumberledge born 1921 in Cardiff, Wales
• Frederick Cumberledge born 1926 in Somerset, England
• John Cumberledge born 1930 in Somerset, England

Frederick Robert Cumberledge Torpedoed in WW2 aboard the SS Boston City

By 1939 and during WW2 Frederick served aboard the SS Boston City as its 3rd Engineer Officer. 

At 04:22 and 04:28 hours on 5 May 1943, U-Boat U-358 captained by Kapitänleutnant Manke Rolf fired torpedoes at the convoy ONS-5 south of Cape Farewell, Greenland and observed two ships sinking. In fact, the SS Bristol City sank after 20 minutes and the Wentworth remained afloat and sank later that morning.

Eleven crew members and four gunners from Bristol City were lost. Frederick was one of the sailors who died. The master, 25 crew members and three gunners were picked up by HMS Loosestrife and landed at St. John’s, Newfoundland on 9 May.

WW1 Merchant Navy Medal Card

Surname	CUMBERLEDGE	Certif. or Dis.A.	807107
Christian names	FREDERICK ROBERT	RS2 No	103921
Place of Birth	Dover	Year of Birth	1884
Mercantile Marine Ribbon[i] issued	22 Aug 1919	to Mercantile Marine Office	Cardiff
British Marine Ribbon issued	22 Aug 1919	to Mercantile Marine Office	Cardiff
Mercantile Marine Medal issued	4 Jul 1921	to Mercantile Marine Office	Beecroft Villa Drury End W Bristol
British Medal issued	4 Jul 1921	to Mercantile Marine Office
Clasps issued
Application dated	26 Aug 1919	Sent to

Merchant Navy Service Records

C.R.1

Surname:                         CUMBERLEDGE

Christian Name:              Frederick Robert

Birth Year:                       1884                   Place: Dover

Dis. A. No. 807107          Rating:  3^rd Engineer

Certificate (if any), Grade:                         No.

Health Insurance No:     Seamens Nat 92684        Unemployment Insurance: UG Bristol 134007

Height:                             5’ 10½”              Colour Eyes: Grey                           Hair: Fair

Complexion:                    Fresh                  Distinguishing marks:

DECLARATION TO BE MADE IF OCCASION ARISES

I hereby certify that I have not hitherto received a Continuous Certificate of Discharge for the following reason:-

S/S/ New York City In Continuation of Dis A 807107

Signature of Seaman: F Cumberledge

Dated Stamp: 11 Nov 1927, Mercantile Marine Office, Bristol

Original Source: BT364

C.R.1                 No. of DIS A issued: 807107

Surname:                         CUMBERLEDGE

Christian Name:              Frederick Robert

Birth Date:                       21 Nov 1884                    Place: Dover

Dis. A. No. 807107          Rating:  3^rd Engineer

Certificate (if any), Grade:                         No.

Health Insurance:            Society: SNIS      Branch:

Membership No.             92684

Unemployment Insurance:          Local Office: Bristol              No. 134007

Height:                             5’ 10½”              Colour Eyes: Grey                           Hair: Fair

Complexion:                    Fair                     Distinguishing marks:

Discharged from: Boston City                   Official Number: 134724

DECLARATION TO BE MADE IF OCCASION ARISES

I hereby certify that I have not hitherto received a Continuous Certificate of Discharge for the following reason:-

Continuation free

Signature of Seaman: F R Cumberledge

Dated Stamp: 1 Apr 1937, Mercantile Marine Office, Bristol

Original Source: BT364

C.R.10. No. of Identity Certificate: 103921

Surname:                         Cumberledge

Christian name:               Frederick R

Rating:                             3^rd Engineer

Date and Place of Birth: 22 Nov 1884 Dover, Kent, England

Nationality:                      British                 Father: British

Height:                            Colour Hair:                                   Eyes:

Tattoo Marks:

Dis. A No. 807107          

Name and Address of Next of Kin:          

New York City                 Nov 1918

S Serving                          May 1919

137737                            Aug 1919

142654                            Aug 1921

Record of Death of Merchant Seaman

Surname: CUMBERLEDGE

Other Names: Frederick R

Address: 80, North Street, Downend, Bristol

(N/K Wife:- May of S/A)

Ship: S/S “Bristol City”

Official No: 134722

Port of Registry: Bristol

British/Fishing/Foreign

Birthplace: Dover

Country: England

Rank of Rating: 3^rd Engineer Officer

Date of Death: 5.5.43

Place of Death: At sea

Age at Death: 57

Cause of Death: Supposed drowned

Name:   Frederick R Cumberledge

Age:      57

Birth Date:         abt 1886

Birth Place:        Dover, England

Death Date:       5 May 1943

Death Place:      At Sea

Spouse: May

Source Citation

National Maritime Museum; Greenwich, England; Merchant Seamen Deaths at Sea