Name
John Charles Frost
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265556
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st/1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
P. IX. R. 9B.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Insription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
John Charles Frost was born in 1895, in Hatfield, Herts, son of James Frost (a Groom) (B 1867 in London Colney, Herts) and Ellen Alice Frost (ne Keable) (B 1866 in Harleston, Norfolk). Baptised on 24th March 1895, in Hatfield. His father James died in 1899, aged 32 years.
1901 Census records John aged 6, living with his widowed mother, brothers James 15, and George 9 and sister Annie 12, in Hall's Yard, Park Street, Hatfield. Ellen was working as a kitchen woman.
His mother Ellen married Frank Thomas in 1904, in Hatfield. John left school in January 1909, aged 14, to start work.
By 1911 John was working as a Greengrocers Lad, living with his mother, stepfather Frank Thomas and brother James 25, in Chapel Yard, Park Street, Hatfield. John was working as a greengrocer and his mother as a caretaker of the Park Street Chapel.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living in Hertford when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
John enlisted in the County Town of Hertford, posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 2622, later 265556 when service numbers were standardised.
Extract from Battalion War Diary - 5th Nov 1914 The Battalion left Bury St. Edmonds by train, in the evening embarked on the "CITY OF CHESTER" sailing at midnight. Disembarked at Le Havre on 6th November 1914, Then marched 3 miles to No. 2 Rest Camp.
John died of his wounds which he received in action on 17th April 1918.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “John Charles Frost – Arm and Sword Yard – 1st Herts. Territorials.”
The Herts Advertiser of 1st June 1918, reported: “Pte J C Frost, Herts. Regt youngest son of Mrs F Thomas of Park Street, Hatfield has succumbed to his wounds – fractured jaw and gun-shot wound in neck – received on March 28th, and was buried in France. He enlisted at the outbreak of war and was wounded in the arm in 1914. Mrs Thomas’ eldest son, James (Frost) died last November in Netley Hospital from illness contracted with the Forces in Salonica, while her only surviving son is serving with the Army in Egypt.”
Awarded Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Additional Information
The value of his effects was £8-13s-3d, Pay Owing and £17, War Gratuity which went to his mother Ellen Alice Thomas.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Frank Thomas (Mother) of Park Street, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
His brother Driver T4/211873 James Frost died on the 18th May 1917, in The Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Nr. Southampton, Hampshire. He is buried in St Luke's Churchyard, Hatfield.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
