BORN HULL 1903. SON OF JOHN CHARLES McFADDEN (1874-1950) & ELLEN MCFADDEN (1876-1952), OF 10 ST STEPHENS TERRACE, SPRING STREET, HULL. (CWGC ADDRESS). THIRD OF SEVEN CHILDREN. ORDINARY SEAMAN, ON THE STEAM CARGO SHIP, ‘POLESLEY’. HE DROWNED AFTER A SUBMARINE ATTACK, ON 21/09/1918, AGED 15. COMMEMORATED ON THE TOWER HILL NAVY MEMORIAL.
HIS NAME IS ALSO RECORDED ON THE ST CHARLES BOROMEO, CHURCH WAR MEMORIAL.
Polesley SS was 4,221grt and a defensively-armed British Merchant Ship. She was built by C. Connell & Co., Glasgow, 11.4.1905, completed 5-1905 as the DEN OF CROMBIE. In 1906 sold to Germany, renamed ISTRIA by the Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg. On the 17th August 1914 she was captured by HMS BLACK PRINCE, in the Red Sea, on a voyage from Sabang to Suez. The Admiralty requisitioned the ship in London in 1915. Renamed POLESLEY by Houlder, Middleton & Co., Ltd., London (crown nominees). In 1918 – Farrar, Groves & Co., Ltd., London (crown nominees).
On the 21st September 1918 when on route from Cardiff fro France, she was torpedoed by German submarine UB-88 and sunk when 1 mile North from Pendeen Light House, Cornwall. 43 lives lost including Master. Owned by Farrar, Groves & Co, London.
McFadden, Wilfred
First name:
WILFRED
Regiment:
Rank:
Ordinary Seaman
Date Died
21/09/1918
Place died:
Sea
Age:
15
