Frederick William Treves BEM, was an English character actor with an extensive repertoire, specialising in avuncular, military and titled types. Treves attended the Nautical College, Pangbourne and during World War II he served in the Merchant Navy. On his first voyage his ship, the freighter Waimarama, was involved in the Operation Pedestal convoy to Malta. The Waimarama was sunk on 13 August 1942 by German bombers, the aviation fuel on deck burst into flame and the ship exploded, with 80 of the 107 crew killed. Treves helped save several of his shipmates, including the only ship's officer to survive the sinking, 3rd Wireless Operator John Jackson. Treves, then 17 years old, received the British Empire Medal and the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea for his actions. After the war he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Treves was from a medical family, his father was a physician and his great uncle was Frederick Treves, the surgeon who became famous for discovering Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man". In the David Lynch film The Elephant Man, the surgeon is played by Anthony Hopkins and Treves himself appeared in the character of Alderman. 

March 29th, 1925 in Cliftonville  /  Died:   Jan 30th, 2012 - Died aged 86