Frederick “Fred” Isherwood was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire, England, in 1886, the son of William and Hannah Isherwood (née Smith). The family resided at 57. Castle Street, where his father was a licensed jeweller, but later moved to 71. Castle Street. Fred was the second youngest of six children, and on completing his education, he, and two of his older brothers became watchmakers.
In 1909, he had immigrated to South America. He initially went to Buenos Aires in Argentina, but according to newspaper reports, he had worked in the electrical engineering department of Chilean copper mines, and lived for a time in Santiago, Chile.
In the spring of 1915, he decided to return home, being mindful of his patriotic duty, and intending to enlist in The British Army. He left Santiago and travelled to Jamaica, where he stayed for a few days before he boarded the
Marie De Giorgio at Kingston, Jamaica, on the 20th April, bound for New York City.
Arriving in New York City on the 26th April, he enjoyed the sights of the city until he joined the
Lusitania as a third class passenger at her berth at Pier 54 on the morning of 1st May 1915 - in time for her scheduled 10 00 a.m. departure. This was then delayed until the early afternoon, so that she could take on board passengers, cargo and crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war work as a troop ship at the end of April.
The Lusitania actually left port at 12.27 p.m. Then, six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, she was torpedoed twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland by the German submarine
U-20, and sank just eighteen minutes later. At that stage of her voyage, she was only 250 miles from the safety of her Liverpool home port.
Frederick Isherwood was killed as a result of her sinking and as his body was never recovered and identified afterwards, he has no known grave. He was aged 29 years.
Some time afterwards, however, papers in his name were discovered floating in the sea and handed in at the Cunard office at Queenstown, for eventual repatriation to his family.
On 20th October 1915, administration of his estate was granted at London, to a William Isherwood, a general merchant, who was obviously a relative. His effects amounted to £176-1s-6d, (£176.7½p.).
Fred Isherwood is remembered on the Isherwood family grave in Tyldesley Cemetery.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Probate Records, Leigh Chronicle, Leigh Journal, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.