Frederick was born 21 August 1912 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire to Frederick and Alice née Edis.

Frederick worked as an audit clerk and married Saidee Isaacs in Birmingham in 1933. Their son Lewis was born in 1937 followed by Josephine in 1939.

Frederick was the navigator on Mosquito DZ370 which departed RAF Upwood on a night operation to Hamburg. The aircraft was lost without trace, possibly over the North Sea.

The pilot killed with Frederick was F/O, Andrew Mackenzie Howden, RCAF J/28764.