Frederick Francis Spall Maltby

A Leading Seaman with H. M. Trawler Bedfordshire (on loan to U.S. Navy), Frederick died on 11th of May 1942 at the age of 31. 

Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 27 July 1910, a son of John and Beatrice Maltby. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 14 October 1912, and his family lived at 11 Meadow Cottages, Oulton. By 1911 his family was living at 39 Park Road, Lowestoft, and by 1939 his parents lived at 15 Wollaston Road, Lowestoft. 

Frederick married Kate Hopkins, at Swansea, in 1935.  

Frederick joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 21 December 1936. At that time he lived at 6 Morrison Terrace, Saint Thomas', Swansea, and later at 15 Jersey Terrace, Saint Thomas', Swansea. He completed his training at H.M.S. Victory I and H.M.S. Amazon in 1937. From June 1937 to July 1939 he worked on the steam trawler Swansea Castle, first as a Deck Hand and late as Bosun.

From 28 August 1939 Frederick served with 'the Royal Navy when called out by proclamation'. Initially he served at H.M.S. Pembroke X (which was in Lowestoft), then with other patrol service vessels before, on 29 February 1941, he joined H.M. Trawler Bedfordshire. Frederick had been advanced to Leading Seaman on 1 April 1940.

In March 1942 the Royal Navy sent 24 converted trawlers, including H.M. Trawler Bedfordshire, to work with the United States Navy in carrying out anti-submarine patrol work along the East Coast of the U.S.A. On 10 May 1942 the Bedfordshire, accompanied by H.M. Trawler St. Loman, were sent from the port of Morehead to search for a German submarine thought to be in the vicinity of Ocracoke Island. The submarine, U-558, tried to sink the St. Loman, but missed. Later the submarine fired a torpedo at the Bedfordshire. This missed, but a subsequent torpedo struck and sink the Bedfordshire killing at 37 crew on board, including Frederick.    

Later Kate lived at 18 Vale of Neath Road, Swansea. 

Frederick's brothers George and Montague also died.