According to Laurie Ward's whakapapa: Fred was born 6 May 1910 and died 9 July 1974. He married Zoe McClennan, birthday 25 May 1918, her funeral took place at Red Beach, Auckland in 200?.
They had three children: Daniel Frederick, Ronald David and Judith Ann.
1) Burma Star, 2) Pacific Star 3) War Medal, 4) France & Germany Star
Anecdotes: During WWII, the Taranaki Daily News mentioned Fred's fight to do active service. He had to appear before a hearing as to his application's worth as he was regarded as an essential occupation worker, ie at the freezing works. He made a succesful plea. Taranaki newspaper, printed circa 1992/3, 50 years later column
Family affair
With a father and four brothers serving in the armed forces, Frederick Fenton of Waitara told the Taranaki Manpower Committee that he wanted to be with them. He was opposing an appeal by Thomas Borthwick & Sons Ltd, which said it was short-handed in most departments, Fenton said he was only a labourer and could easily be replaced. The appeal was dismissed.
In 1956 my Dad, Hip, brought my Mum, brother and myself to Auckland and we visited Uncle Fred at his workplace, the Mon Desir hotel in Takapuna. I grew up thinking that he owned the hotel.
I last saw Uncle Fred in May 1974 and he was remembering the bombing of Liverpool, England. He was a quiet man. Of the homes I remember that he and Aunty Zoe had lived in were, Sanders Avenue and Blomfield Spa in Takapuna, and at Palm Beach on Waiheke Island.
I think that Uncle Fred rode motorbikes in races, same as his brother Jack did.
Uncle Fred served in the Royal New Zealand Navy. He was stationed at HMNZS PHILOMEL. He was transferred to the DEMS ships of KOROWAI, PAPAROA and WAIMARINO. These ships were of the merchant navy service and were protected as Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships with Uncle Fred serving as a gunner. He served at what was called PRESIDENT III. The service of those who served as the Navy's gunners on the merchant fleets had a very tough time and its worth finding out tthe stories of those who served.
I read a lot of messages from people asking questions about family lost on ships who become confused with their facts on family service records. The vast majority of this confusion is quite simple to fathom out. People ask,"my Father was killed onboard a particular ship while serving in the Royal Navy but we have no record of the ship he was on". It always seems to be the last record on their discharge papers is H.M.S. President III, H.M.S. Wellesley, or H.M.S. Glendower. The simple answer to this is, these three names were not ships but Royal Naval training bases for gunners to man Merchant ships, known as Defense Equipped Merchant Ships or D.E.M.S. for short. http://www.british-merchant-navy.co.uk/DEMS.htm
He received the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Burma Clasp, France and Germany Star, War Medal, NZ War Sea Medal
Statistics: 5ft11¼ins height, dark brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion and a scar on the left knee.
Able Seaman NZ5833
Had been in the army for six months during 1939. Age 32 years in 1942 ,in July, when his occupation was Welder and Aunty Zoe lived at Bank Street in Waitara. A previous form filled in June 1942 said he was a Fitter's Assistant at T. Borthwick & Sons, Waitara. He had once been given a ticket for speeding in Waitara.
He served in the Home Guard at Waitara as a Sergeant Major.
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