Frederick James Bolton was born in Long Ashton, Somerset and worked as a House Boy before joining the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class on 4 Apr 1902, serving aboard H.M.S. Agincourt, Albermarle, Wildfire, Royal Oak, amongst other ships pre-war, Goliath, Blenheim and Hibernia during WWI and H.M.S. Agamemnon Officers Section from 16 Nov 16 Nov 1917.