FRIZELL Frank Crosfield

Frank Crosfield FRIZELL

Signalman Z/1508, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve,

H.M.S. Egmont, ‘M/5’, sunk off the coast of PALESTINE. Possibly torpedoed, soon after leaving port. There were a few survivors, but Frank was not amongst them, even though he was a strong swimmer.

Killed in Action aged 18 on 11th November 1917

Remembered on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon

Son of George Herbert & Mary Hannah FRIZELL.

One of his sisters remarked, 'Frank, looked older than 18 years of age and understood that he was taken off one ship as it was realised that he was under age. But as they were short of a Signalman, he was added to the crew of H.M.S. Egmont'.

G. H. Frizell & Co, Family Grocer, was situated on the corner of Queens Road and Woodville Road.

A letter from Frank, to his mother:

In which Frank sends his two sisters, Betty and Molly kisses X X X

To the Next of Kin:

Mrs. Mary Frizell, receives the tragic news concerning the survivors and her son Frank . . .

I deeply regret to have to inform you . . . he must be regarded as having lost his life . . .

South Wales Weekly Post, 24th November 1917

A typed copy of the Letter of condolence: Sent to Mr Frizell, from J Penzer

Seabank House

Mumbles

Nov 19th/17 [sic]

Dear Mr. Frizell,

I have been away from home to London and Birmingham during last week and was much distressed to hear on my return of the loss of your dear Son, truly it is a great blow to you all, more especially so is it to the Mothers and Sisters of those dear boys who have passed over, for they are the ones who feel it most, I sympathise with you all greatly, your loss however great (and great it undoubtedly is,) must be his gain; if the is the thought that he sacrificed his life nobly doing his duty in defence of the great and glorious cause for freedom and right; In years to come our youth will mourn the loss of such noble heroes who went down fighting, that those who follow would be free from the menace that has hung around us for the past 40 years,

Believe me.

Yours Faithfully

J. Penzer

Mr. J. Penzer raises several points in his letter which give insight into the general public's convictions during this period -

'If there can be any consoling feeling in the loss you are called upon to bear, it is the thought that he sacrificed his life nobly doing his duty in the defence of freedom and right;

In years to come our youth will mourn the loss of such noble heroes who went down fighting, that those that follow would be free from the menace that has hung around us for the past 40 years. Believe me,'

Yours Faithfully, J. Penzer

The identity of the signatory has been correctly identified, by researcher Alun Bevan. A newspaper cutting, reporting the marriage of John Penzer's eldest son, 'Trooper Arthur Vaughn Penzer, who served in the Glamorgan Yeomanry,' helped to confirm that he lived in this area at the time and the local Polling Record confirmed his address as 9, Port Eynon Terrace, Slade Road.