Name
Frederick Cyril Westwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/12/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31896
Bedfordshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATBY MEMORIAL
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Stevenage Old Town Memorial, St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town, Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town, Thomas Alleyne School Memorial Gates, Stevenage
Pre War
Fred was the son of Ernest & Annie Westwood of 26 High Street, Stevenage.
He was educated at Alleynes School and his father was a local butcher who later employed his son as a slaughterman.
Wartime Service
On 30th December 1917 the German submarine UC-34 torpedoed the troopship “Aragon” off of Alexandria. HMS Attack and the Armed Trawler “Points Castle” rescued soldiers from the sinking troopship, but HMS Attack either struck a mine or received another torpedo as she pulled men from the water. Ten sailors from HMS Attack died and 600 lives were lost on the “Aragon”. Frederick has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt.
Additional Information
Ernest is also commemorated on the family headstone in Stevenage (St. Nicholas) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO FREDERICK CYRIL, SON OF THE ABOVE [Ernest Westwood] OF THE 3RD(*1) BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.
DROWNED AT SEA ON THE TROOP SHIP ARAGON DECEMBER 31ST(*2) 1917. AGED 20 YEARS
"UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS."
*1 CWGC records his regiment as the 5th.
*2 CWGC records the date of death as the 30th.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
