Frederick James Watson

A Deck Hand with Dredger Mercurius (London), Frederick died on 28th of June 1916 at the age of 60.

Frederick was born at Ramsgate, Kent, on 19 January 1856, a son of Edmund and Sarah Watson. He was baptised at Saint George’s Church, Ramsgate, on 2 March 1856. In 1861 his family lived at Ramsgate. 

On 26 February 1878 Frederick married Caroline Elizabeth Goodrum at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. In 1881 they lived at 2 Raglan Cottages, Lowestoft, and Frederick was a fisherman. By 1891 they were living at 21 Cathcart Street and this was Frederick’s home for the rest of his life.

Frederick worked as a trawler fisherman and, at times, was the master of a fishing smack. 

Frederick joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 30 March 1915, number DA 5334. He served on the trawler Guide Me, but was found to be medically unfit, due to a double inguinal hernia, and discharged on 15 February 1916. 

On 28 June 1916 the Mercurius was on a voyage from Southampton to Immingham when it struck a mine about three miles south-east of Lowestoft and sank with all hands. 

Frederick's son, Frederick Samuel Watson, died in 1918 whilst serving with the Canadian Mounted Rifles.