Level Crossing Cemetery Fampoux
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Edmund Frost was born 1886 at Dunston, Gateshead, County Durham, the youngest of 6 children he was the 3rd born of 4 sons and had 2 elder sisters. His father George Frost born at Whickham, County Durham in 1855 at the age of 14 years was a joiner and married at St. Mary’s Whickham, April 7th 1876, Margaret Noble born 1856 at Dunston, Gateshead. He became a boat builder by 1881, whilst living at Victoria Street with his wife and 4, children. By 1891 Margaret, now a widow, was living at Teams Cottages, Dunston, on her own means, supporting Thomas (14), Sarah (11) Matthew (10) and Charles (4). In later years they moved to Akenside Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, very close to the banks of the river Tyne. It is possible her sons were also joiners and involved in boat building.
Charles Edmund Frost left Newcastle-upon-Tyne and enlisted at Hamilton Lanarkshire on the outbreak of war assigned as Private S/9787 Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders part of Kitchener’s second army, 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. They were moved to Aldershot and by November were at Bramshott, February 1915 they were transferred to Basingstoke and by April on to Chisledon. The Division departed to France July 9th 1915 landing at Boulogne, Private Frost was not amongst them but joined his Regiment in the field as of January 1916.
Unfortunately, his military record no longer exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, however, he was initially assigned to the 10th Battalion then transferred to the 11th which saw action on the Somme during 1916 at Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Ancre Heights and Le Transloy, in the Arras sector in 1917 at the Battles of the Scarpe and at Arleux before moving to the Ypres salient in Belgium.
Private S/9787 Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was killed in action September 12th 1917 in the Arras sector and interred at Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. C. 31. He was 31 years old and single.
His mother Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 19, Akenside Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
The possibility exists that Margaret may have married John Frost, George’s brother born in 1856 and with whom she had a daughter Elizabeth born 1892, as yet unproven.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Charles Edmund Frost is remembered at Dunston Hill on D31.01
