Frederick (Fred) Christopher Dittmer
Frederick, known as Fred, was born in January 1881 in
Liverpool.
2
- Birth Notes
- Recorded as aged 36 on 9-Aug-1917
Births Mar 1881 (>99%)
Dittmer Christoph Friderich Liverpool 8b 28
He died as a war casualty, Torpedoed by U53, at the age of 36 on August 22nd, 1917.
3
- Death Notes
- He was an Assistant Steward in the merchant marine and served on SS Verdi (Lamport and Holt Line), the vessel plied the Liverpool to New York route, she was torpedoed by U53 in the Atlantic on 22 Aug 1917- the vessel was built in 1907, 7,120 tons deadweight, and sank 115 miles North West by North of Eagle Island, 6 crewmen were lost, she was carrying general cargo when sunk, Christopher Frederick is included in the roll of honour in Liverpool Cathedral and there is a plaque on the Merchant Marine Memorial on Tower Hill.
The Captain of U53 was Hans Rose one of the top 10 U boat aces of WW1, he was responsible for over 200,000 tons of Allied shipping losses during WW1, his boat was surrendered to the French on 11 Nov 1918. He went on to become one of the main U boat trainers in WW2.
Family stories tell that Frederick was killed trying to save another sailor after being torpedoed.
Just 13 days earlier he had arrived in New York from Buneos Aires, which was recorded and Indexed.
CWGC Reference:
Name: DITTMER, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK
Initials: C F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Assistant Steward
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
Unit Text: S.S. "Verdi" (Liverpool)
Age: 36
Date of Death: 22/08/1917
Additional information: Son of Cathaine Maria Margaret Dittmer, and the late John Henry Christopher Dittmer; husband of the late Maud Seymour Dittmer. Born at Liverpool.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Frederick (Fred) Christopher Dittmer & Maud Seymour Lindop 
Maud Seymour Lindop