Francis Edward Mullender

A Third Hand with the trawler Fleurette (Lowestoft), Francis died on the 13th February 1917, aged 44.

Francis was born at Pakefield in 1873, a son of Edward Emmanuel and Rachel Ann Mullender. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Pakefield, on 20 July 1873. In 1881 his family lived at 20 Pakefield Street, and this was still their home in 1891. By 1901 Frances’ family were living at 17 Pakefield Street and Frances was a fisherman. 

During the First World War Frances was the Third Hand of the trawler Fleurette, LT 312. On 13 February 1917, in rough weather, the Fleurette was stopped by German submarine U-47. The crew were forced to take to their dingy as the submarine intended to sink the trawler. The bad weather prevented the submarine from sinking the Fleurette which eventually came ashore unmanned and none of the five crew were never seen again. 

Francis’ brother, Charles, was the Skipper of the Fleurette and also died with the loss of the trawler. His niece, Muriel, died in 1944 due to a V-2 rocket attack.