Frederick Manley was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1909.  He was listed as Sub Lieutenant (Probationary) Royal Naval Reserve in the Navy List of January 1935 with a Seniority of 1 February 1934.  He was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for nine months’ training during which time he served in HMS H43.  He was promoted to Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve on 1 February 1937.  He was mobilised for service on the declaration of war in 1939 and was appointed to HMS OXLEY as Navigating Officer on 3 August 1939.

HMS OXLEY was torpedoed and sunk whilst on patrol on 10 September 1939 by HMS TRITON after OXLEY strayed out of her area and failed to respond to challenges from TRITON.  Lieutenant Manley initially survived the sinking and was seen in the water. Lieutenant Geoffrey Watkins of HMS TRITON dived in to rescue him and swam back to HMS TRITON with him but Lieutenant Manley then disappeared.  Lieutenant Watkins was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society for his attempt to rescue Lieutenant Manley.

Frederick Manley of Restover, Pine Avenue, Gravesend in Kent was the husband of Dorothy Manley and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No. 30 Column No. 2.