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Frederick Walter Killett -
2nd-Hand R.N.R.
Born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 1888, Frederick Walter Killett
had been a fisherman. Similar to many from the East Anglian ports, in 1911 he
was a third-hand on a boat working in the western English Channel. By then he
was married. Two years later he qualified as a second-hand, at Lowestoft.
Enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve (Trawler Section) locally, in
January 1915, he was rated and confirmed as a 2nd-Hand. He was detailed to a
drifter, Togo, while still at Halycon.
Having only recently entered government service that month, she was armed
lightly with a three-pounder gun and within days despatched to Dover, as one
of Attentive’s many craft. Certainly by
January 1916, she was employed as a net-drifter. In mid-November of that same
year she then went out to the Ægean, based at
Mudros and attached to Osiris that was by then the depot ship for the
net-drifters in theatre. Although turned over to Valhalla II in March
1918, Togo remained based at Mudros. Similarly, administrative control
shifted to St. George in August 1918, but she was still in the Ægean. Transferred to Europa’s administration on
1st January 1919, this must only have been for Togo’s return to
Lowestoft: arriving back in England on January 30th. During this transit he
was awarded a good conduct badge and also, seemingly, three service chevrons.
At Halcyon once again, Frederick Killett was demobilised on 5th May
1919.
In all likelihood he was at sea when the 1921 Census was carried out.
However, it is known that in 1939 he was still active as a fisherman and when
ashore living in Lowestoft, with his wife and a son.
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