William Frost
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Frost nee Brooks. Thomas Frost was born in Somercoates/Ripley, Derbyshire, on 1 March 1871 (J/F/M Belper, mother's maiden name Wharton) and Mary Ellen Brooks in Swanwick, Derbyshire, on 11 July 1875 (Amber Valley). They were married at All Saints, Ripley, in 1892 (O/N/D Belper) and according to the information provided on the 1911 Census had had eight children of whom seven survived. Seven children were named on the census between 1901 and 1911: Mary Ann b. 1894 (J/A/S Basford), William b. 24 February 1896 (J/F/M Basford), Thomas b. abt 1898, Clara b. 2 April 1900 (A/M/J Basford), Emma b. 18 October 1902 (O/N/D Basford), Ferdinand b. 12 June 1905 (J/A/S Basford) and George b. 5 March 1907 (O/N/D Basford). Apart from Thomas who was born in Ripley, all the children were born in Kirkby/East Kirkby. In 1901 the famiy was living at 4 Morley Street, Kirkby in Ashfield. Thomas (30) was a coal miner hewer. He and Mary (25) had four children, Mary A (6), William (5), Thomas (3) and Clara (1). By 1911 Thomas (40) and Mary (36) were living at 54 Marlborough Road, East Kirkby. All seven children were in the home on the night of the census: Mary Ann (17), William (15) a horse driver below ground, Thomas (13) a golf caddy, Clara (11), Emma (8), Ferdinand (5) and George (3). At the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register, Thomas, a retired colliery labourer, and Mary were living at 91 Marlborough Road, Kirkby in Ashfield. Thomas died in 1949 (O/N/D Mansfield aged 78 and Mary in 1958 (O/N/D Basford) aged 83. Of William's siblings: Mary Ann has not been traced after 1911. Thomas married Minnie Sims on 12 December 1917 and they had a daughter, Minnie, b. 20 June 1918. He served with the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 2 September 1918, two weeks before William's death. (See 'Extra information' and also his record on this ROH) Clara married Hezekiah Jackson in 1925 (O/N/D Basford) and in 1939 they were living at 105 Marlborough Road, East Kirkby. Hezekiah was a road works foreman and Clara's occupation was given as unpaid domestic duties. Also in the home were their sons, Peter A Jackson b. 11 January 1927 and Roy J Jackson b. 27 August 1934. Emma married John William Hair in 1928 (O/N/D Basford) and in 1939 they were living at 85 Vernon Road, Kirkby in Ashfield. John (b. 3 October 1903) was a colliery hewer and Emma's occupation was given as unpaid domestic duties. Also in the household was Patricia Sheila Wheatley (Allan-Liversidge) b. 18 September 1934. Emma died in 1996 (J/A/S Basford). Ferdinand married Nellie Keeton (b. 25 November 1907) in 1932 (J/A/S Basford) and in 1939 they were living at 24 Garden Road, Mansfield. Ferdinand was a coal hewer (underground) and Nellie's occupation was given as unpaid domestic duties. Also in the household was their daughter Mavis I. (later Wilson) b. 6 October 1934. Ferdinand died in 1978 (O/N/D Mansfield). George has not been positively identified after the 1911 Census.
William joined the Royal Navy on 31 December 1914 on a Short Service Engagement (5 years RN + 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve) He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II, 31 December 1914-1 May 1915 (Stoker 2nd Class), HMS Venus, 2 May 1915-10 April 1918 (Stoker 1st Class 1 January 1916), Victory II, 11 April 1918-16 September 1918. RN record annotated ‘NP10100/18. DD {Discharged Dead] 16th Sept. 18. Pneumonia (-) (-).' William died of pneumonia at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire, on 16 September 1918. He was buried with full military honours in Kingsway Old Cemetery, East Kirkby, on 21 September 1918.
His brother Private Thomas Frost attested on 2nd March 1916 at Nottingham, he gave his age as 20 yrs and six months, his address as 2 Mill Row, Annesley Woodhouse, he stated he was a coal miner and his religion was that of a Wesleyan. His next of kin was his wife Minnie of the same address of the same address, he was posted to the reserves the next day. He was mobilised on 23rd April 1918 and reported to the Derby Depot on 25th April 1918 where he was posted to the 4th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He embarked from Dover on 24th August 1918 and landed in Calais the same day. He was killed in action on 2nd September 1918 and is buried in the AIF burial ground, Fleurs, Somme, France. Article published in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times on 21st September 1918 :- “A military funeral took place on Saturday afternoon [21st September 1918] when 1st Class Stoker, William Frost, whose home was at Marlboro—road, East Kirkby, was buried at East Kirkby Cemetery. Stoker Frost had died at Haslar Hospital, Gosport, on Sept. 16th, from pneumonia. The Rev. S. M. Wheeler conducted the service, and the funeral procession was headed by the Kirkby Colliery Prize Band, and including a large number of discharged soldiers. A firing party from Clipstone Camp was in attendance.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
