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Frederick William Whiting, Cook, Mercantile Marine, HMS Cambria. Also Sapper (6714) of the No. 2 Siege Company, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers. Died on 13 October 1917, age 30, at Holyhead of natural causes, aggravated by war service.
Born at Bristol he was the son of Mrs (Annie Jane?) Cooper (nee Whiting) of 8 Little Corn Street, Bath. He is not recorded in the 1911 Census as resident at Holyhead. However, "Holyhead and the Great War, Roll of Honour" records a F Whiting being resident at 4 Wian Street, Holyhead. The 1891 Census records a Frederick Whiting, aged 4, inmate at the Bath Union Workhouse. It would appear that his mother, Annie Whiting, aged 23 and single, was also an inmate as was his brother, Henry John Whiting, aged 2. In 1901 a Frederick Whiting, aged 14, is recorded resident at the Clifton Certified Industrial School, Clifton, Bristol, where he was employed as a Brushwork Drawer. His mother appears to have married a Walter George Cooper at Bath in 1900. His brother married Ellen Saunders at Bath in 1913. Henry John Whiting later served with the Gloucester Regiment for a short time before being discharged in 1916 due to eye problems.
Frederick William Whiting initially joined the LNWR at Holyhead on 7 April 1908. His Army Service Record indicates that he enlisted at Holyhead on 2 September 1914 as a member (6714) of No. 2 Siege Company, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers and declared fit for war service. He was previously employed as a Cook. He was discharged from the army at Beaumaris on 17 February 1916 after serving in France from 14 December 1914 to 14 January 1916. His discharge was due to him being "no longer fit for war service"having "valvular disease of the heart", aggravated by war service. His Commanding Officer confirmed that "the unit was subjected to very severe shelling and two gas attacks at the Battle of Ypres in which the unit had no respirators or gas hoods available to them".
After discharge he rejoined the LNWR as cook on the HMHS Cambria and is listed on the Crew Agreements for 1 July to 31 December 1916. His service record indicates that in July 1917 he was serving as Second Cook on HM Ambulance Transport Cambria when she was stationed at Holyhead working between there and Dublin. It was noted that at that time he was able to carry out his duties normally. He was known to be a member of shipboard football teams.
However, he is recorded as having died on 13 October 1917 at 4 Wian Street. His death was registered at Holyhead (11b 589). His death certificate records that his death was due to heart failure and damage to his lungs.
He was not initially listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Register and he lay in an unmarked grave for over 103 years. Following an application to the CWGC by the author of this website (via the 'In from the Cold' organisation), in March 2021 a CWGC headstone was erected.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal for his army service. However, these were never received by a member of his family and his Medal Index Card records a request for them to be disposed of in March 1922.
Buried at Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead, grave Section 2.1426.
Thanks to Aled L Jones for providing additional information.
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