In Norton (St. Mary) Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

Frederick Lofthouse
A.B. and Quartermaster
S.S. “Marwarri”
5th October 1939   age 59

The beloved husband
of Emma Jane Lofthouse

The son of William and Grace Lofthouse and the husband of Emma Jane Lofthouse, of Norton, Stockton on Tees.

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Frederick was the second son of Norton on Tees innkeeper William Lofthouse and his wife Grace (nee Hodgson).  Born on 12th March 1880 he was brought up in the Highland Lad on Norton High Street along with his brothers John James, William, Archibald, Albert, Herbert, Alexander Septimus and Robert.

On 12th March 1898 Frederick, who had been working as a groom and gardener, signed up with the Merchant Navy for 12 years.  His first ship was the “Caledonia” and he worked his way from being a cabin boy to Able Bodied Seaman before leaving the service on 11th March 1910.

Just a month later he married Emma Jane Coates at Boltby in Yorkshire and she remained living with her family in Brompton with their son Charles, but by 1939 was living in Mowbray Road, Norton.

Frederick served with the Merchant Navy during both World Wars, becoming Quartermaster on  his last ship the SS Marwarri.    He was one of the two crew members who were killed when the ship struck a mine in the Bristol Channel on 5th October 1939.

Two of his younger brothers, Archibald Lofthouse and Albert Lofthouse were killed in action in WW1.

Frederick Lofthouse is remembered at Stockton on Tees in S138.19 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.