Fred was the eldest of six children, whose parents were Frederick William & Margaret Burford from Smethwick, Staffordshire. I think he was the joker of the family, as he was often found smashing eggs, which the chickens had laid in his grandparents' garden.

As a teenager he often cycled to Towyn to visit his grandmother, either on his own or with an uncle. He also won a medal for being a finalist in the Birmingham & District amateur football final (1935-1936).

In 1938 Fred began working in the GPO Sorting Office as a Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist. He was also engaged to Marjorie.

In 1940 he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as an Abel Seaman. During his time in the Royal Navy he served on the HMS Sultan and HMS Tamar as a Telegraphist. He sent many letters to his parents, giving as much information as he was allowed to. The last one was written in June 1942 as a POW. Thankfully these valuable letters were kept and have been passed onto me.

The HMS Tamar was scuttled in Kowloon Harbour in December 1941, he was consequently captured and sent to Sham Shui Po Camp. When the ill fated Lisbon Maru was torpedoed he managed to escape and was rescued by the Chinese fishermen. Sadly he died at Osaka Military Hospital with dysentery on 16th October 1942, after being taken ill at #1 Osaka Branch Camp (Minato-ku).

Frederick is buried at Yokohama War Cemetery, Plot L, Row D, Grave 6.