Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant F. Abel, 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was drowned as a result of a German U-Boat attack on the troopship S.S. Aragon, 30 December 1917 - one of 610 men to lose their lives during the torpedo attack

1914 Star (6352 L. Cpl. F. Abel. 1/Norf: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. F. Abel.) very fine (3) £200-£300

Frederick Abel was born in Hardingham, Norfolk. He initially served during the Great War in the ranks with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in the French theatre of war from 16 August 1914. Abel was subsequently commissioned in to the 3rd Battalion and drowned, 30 December 1917. On the latter date the Troopship S.S. Aragon arrived at Alexandria Harbour, having sailed from Marseilles on 17 December. She was laden with around 2,700 troops (including Abel) bound for the conflicts in Palestine. As she arrived in a convoy bound for the port, the rest of the ships sailed onwards to Alexandria and she lay up ten miles off shore, awaiting her escort. The 9588 tons of ocean liner drifted gently as she waited within sight of land but was torpedoed by the German Submarine and minelayer the UC-34.

The destroyer HMS Attack dashed to her rescue as she sunk quickly, as well as every available ship within reach. Many of the men rescued and taken onto the Attack had just stripped their oil drenched clothes from their bodies and laid on the deck when she too was torpedoed by the same submarine, almost blowing her in two.

The following day - New Years Eve - just as the rescue was called off, fleet auxiliary craft HMS Osmanieh also hit a mine in the area, taking another 197 soldiers and nurses down with her. Approximately 610 of the 2,700 passengers on board the Aragon were lost at sea - including Second Lieutenant Abel. He is commemorated at the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery.