Frederick John Lidgey – Merchant Navy, S.S. Marcella

Second Engineer Officer Frederick John Lidgey – Merchant Navy, S.S. Marcella

Early Life and Family Background

Frederick John Lidgey was born in 1888 in Swansea, the son of Hubert Lidgey and Catherine Evans. Although few records survive concerning his early life, the Lidgey family were long established in the Swansea district, and Frederick grew up within the industrial and maritime communities that shaped so many lives in the town.

In 1924, he married Guinevere Deering Burrow in Killay, establishing their home in the western suburbs of Swansea.

Merchant Navy Service

Frederick served with the Merchant Navy, rising to the rank of Second Engineer Officer, a senior and technically demanding position responsible for the operation, maintenance, and safety of the ship’s engines and machinery. His role placed him at the heart of the vessel’s engineering department, ensuring the ship remained operational during long and often hazardous wartime voyages.

The Attack on Convoy OS‑44

In the early hours of 13 March 1943, the convoy OS‑44 was sailing 190 miles west of Cape Finisterre when it came under attack by the German submarine U‑107. At 05.30 hours, U‑107 fired a spread of torpedoes and reported hits on three ships. In reality, four vessels were struck: the Clan Alpine, Marcella, Oporto, and Sembilangan. The attack formed part of the intense U‑boat campaign of early 1943, when Allied shipping suffered heavy losses in the North Atlantic and Bay of Biscay approaches.

The Loss of the S.S. Marcella

S.S. Marcella
credit - wrekcsite

The S.S. Marcella, commanded by Master Richard Downie, was fatally hit during the attack. The ship was lost with the master, 34 crew members, and nine gunners. Among those who perished was Second Engineer Officer Frederick John Lidgey, whose duties placed him deep within the ship’s machinery spaces at the time of the torpedo strike. His death formed part of the heavy toll borne by the Merchant Navy during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Frederick John Lidgey
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

Commemoration

With no known grave but the sea, Second Engineer Officer Frederick John Lidgey is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. His name stands among those of thousands of Merchant Navy personnel who gave their lives during the Second World War, ensuring that his service and sacrifice are remembered.