George Edward Frost (c1893-1918), Private [probably acting Corporal] (326012) in the 1st/1st Battalion the Cambridgeshire Regiment, was killed in action on 21 September 1918, aged 25, at the Second Battle of the Somme (which lasted from 21 August to early October 1918). He has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, in northern France, as well as being commemorated on this family grave.

George Edward Frost was born in Cambridge in 1893, to Agnes Annie and Frederick Jeffrey Frost. Both parents are buried in this grave. George had three sisters, Winfred born 1889, Maud born 1890, and Agnes born 1897.

In 1911 he worked as a clerk at St Johns College. He worked there until he enlisted in the Cambridge regiment in October 1914.

He was killed in action on the 18th of September 1918. The Cambridge Independent Press reported his death as follows:

Official news has been received of the death in action, on September 18th, of Corpl G E Frost, of the Cambs Regiment, only son of the late Mr Fred and Mrs Frost, of 9, Willow-walk, Cambridge. The chaplain of the battalion writes to say: “He went over the top with his company, but during the fighting was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet, and died instantly. It was impossible to do anything for him, else how willingly we would have done it. We carried his body in after the battle, and buried him in the Spades Cemetery, a new one we have made just in front of Ephey. The commanding officer asks me to say how greatly he regrets the loss of such an ecellent and gallant NCO, and how deeply he sympathises with the family.” Corpl Frost enlisted in October, 1914, and went to France with the first draft in July, 1915. He was with the regiment twelve months, after which he was on the staff of the Brigade headquarters. He rejoined his regiment to take a commission only a few weeks before he was killed. He was a Caius College Chorister, and an old Higher Grade School boy. He was well known in football and rowing circles, having been a member of the team that won the Letts’ Cup for football, and the Cup for the College Servants’ Junior Fours in 1913. In 1914 he was elected hon sec of the Cambridge University and College Servants’ Club. At the time of joining up he was a clerk in the office of St John’s College. He leaves a mother and three sisters to mourn their loss.”( Cambridge independent press 18 October 1918)

Frost grave
Frost monument

 

 

Lat Lon : 52.201837 0.13791114 – click here for location

Parish : Holy Trinity

See family grave page for more information

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:
War Graves Photographic Project
1911 census
Soldiers died in the Great War (accessed on Lives of the First World War)
BMD
Cambridge Independent Press, 18th October 1918

By Ian Bent, Jo Costin and Alexander Ogunbode

George Edward Frost