Signalman Frank Crossfield Frizell – Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. M15
Early Life
 |
| Frank Crossfield Frizell |
Exactly one year before the Armistice of
11 November 1918,
Frank Crossfield Frizell was killed in action on
11 November 1917.
He was born in
1900 at
Mumbles, the son of
George Hubert
and
Mary Hannah Frizell, who, by the time of his birth, were raising
their family in the coastal village overlooking Swansea Bay.
 |
| 1901 Census |
During the
1901 Census, the Frizell family were
residing at the
Greengrocer’s Shop, Chapel Street, Mumbles. Frank’s
father,
George, aged
33 and born in Lampeter, was employed as the
Grocer’s Manager, while his wife
Mary, aged
30 and born in
Merthyr Tydfil, was also present at the home. Their children listed were
George
H., aged 6;
Mabel K., aged 5;
Lily Maud, aged 3; and
Frank
C., then aged 1.
 |
| 1911 Census |
By the
1911 Census, the family were still living on
New
Chapel Street, Mumbles.
George, now
43, continued to work as
a
Grocer, and
Mary, aged
40, remained at home. The
children present at this time were
George Hubert, aged 16 and working as
an apprentice;
Mabel Kate, aged 15;
Lily Maud, aged 13;
Frank
Crossfield, aged 11;
Harold Jones, aged 7 and attending school; and
Elizabeth
Annie, aged 3.
Naval Service
 |
| Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Records |
 |
| H.M.S. M15 |
In
January 1915, Frank enlisted with the
Royal
Naval Volunteer Reserve. He later held the rank of
Signalman and
served aboard the monitor
H.M.S. M15, one of the Royal Navy’s
shallow-draft vessels designed to mount heavy guns for bombardment along
hostile shorelines. Monitors of this class were employed extensively to support
land operations in theatres where close-coastal firepower could influence fighting
on land.
Engagement Off Gaza and Death
During late 1917, H.M.S. M15 was active off
the coast of Palestine in support of the Third Battle of Gaza, where
British and Imperial forces faced Ottoman defensive positions. On 11th
November 1917, after taking part in the naval bombardment of Gaza, M15—together
with the destroyer H.M.S. Staunch—was attacked by the German
submarine UC-38.
Both vessels were torpedoed. H.M.S. M15 sank
in deep water roughly a kilometre from the shoreline. Twenty-six members of her
crew lost their lives in the disaster, among them Signalman Frank Crossfield
Frizell.
 |
| British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records |
According to the
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage
and Death Records, Frank’s family home at the time of his death was
Queens
Road, Mumbles.
 |
Frank Crossfield Frizell
Plymouth Naval Memorial
credit - findagrave |
He is commemorated on the
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, alongside the
names of those Royal Navy personnel who have no known grave but the sea.
 |
| South Wales Daily Post |
In the weeks following the sinking, the
South Wales Daily
Post published an article regarding Frank’s death, ensuring that his
service and sacrifice were acknowledged within his local community.
Comments
Post a Comment