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Frederick "Fred" Mason (1896-1916)


West Hartlepool man served as a stoker in the Royal Navy Reserve and was killed at the Battle of Jutland


Frederick “Fred” Mason was born on 9 January 1896 in West Hartlepool. His father was Charles Mason (1849-1915), a blacksmith’s striker, originally from Thornton Dale, Yorkshire. His mother was Elizabeth Mason (1856-1918) who was born in Whitby, Yorkshire. In 1901 the family lived in 40 Warden Street, West Hartlepool and in 1911 in 35 Lister Street, West Hartlepool.

Fred joined the Royal Naval Reserve some time before the Great War. He was rated as a stoker and given the service number 5575/S. When war broke out he was called to active service and became part of the crew of HMS Warrior an armoured cruiser.

Warrior took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. During action the ship was hit by at least fifteen 28-centimetre and six 15-centimetre shells which caused large fires and heavy flooding. She suffered 68 crew members killed in action or died of wounds, including Fred. Despite the damage, Warrior’s engines continued running for long enough to allow her to withdraw to the west. She was taken in tow by the seaplane tender HMS Engadine who took off her surviving crew of 743. She was abandoned in a rising sea at 8:25 am on 1 June 1916 and subsequently foundered.

Fred is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial and remembered locally on the Harbour Light 1914-18, Hartlepool and the Obelisk, Victory Square, Hartlepool.

Fred Mason was awarded the Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: West Hartlepool

Birth date: 09-Jan-1896

Death date: 31-May-1916

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 40 Warden Street, West Hartlepool (1901 census)
35 Lister Street, West Hartlepool (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Charles Mason (1849-1915), Elizabeth Mason (1856-1918)
Siblings: Charles Mason, Ernest Mason, William G Mason, James Mason, Richard Mason, Maud Mason, Eleanor Mason, Muriel Mason

Military service:

5575/S
HMS Warrior

Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Harbour Light, 1914-18, Hartlepool
Obelisk 1914-18, Victory Square, Hartlepool

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham