-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

In Remembrance of
Frederick Charles Freeborn

Frederick was born on 12th January 1901 in Streatham, London to parents Albert Edward and Ellen Freeborn (nee Bridge). He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in 1917 and, on reaching the age of 18, began his adult service as an Ordinary Seaman. Somewhat unusually, while holding the rate of Able Seaman, he elected to transfer to the Stores Accountant branch in January 1924, not long after his 23rd birthday.

Frederick served aboard the following ships/establishments: H.M.S. Capetown, Cricket, Eclipse, Revenge, Dunedin, Hawkins and Hood. Frederick gave exemplary service: he gained his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1934 when serving in H.M.S. Cricket. Furthermore, his service record has a string of successive 'Superior' professional assessments. Not surprising, then, that he gained the distinction of being promoted to warrant rank in late 1938. He was subsequently appointed to Portsmouth in January 1939 as an instructor at H.M.S. Hawkins. Later that year, before the outbreak of the Second World War, he was appointed to H.M.S. Hood.

He was married to Violet Mary Adams in Dartmouth in 1924. The couple had one son, Anthony John, who was born 16th October 1928. He would later go on to serve in the RAF, retiring as a Wing Commander.

Frederick was honoured with the M.B.E. on the very day Hood sank. He was 40 years old at the time of his loss.

Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial

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Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial



The part of the memorial in which the Hood casualty names can be found.
(Panels 45 to 61)





Frederick's name is in Column 1 of Panel 46.





Detail of Frederick's name.

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