TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Robert was born in Teignmouth, Devon on the 26th of December 1892.

He was baptised at St. Michael's Church on the 14th of February 1893.

In 1911, Robert and his family were living at 5, Regent Street Teignmouth, Devon. His father, Frederic Cornish Frost, born 1855 at Bickington, Devon, an Auctioneer and Estate Agent, his mother Mary Elizabeth Frost nee Wotton, born 1860 at Bishopsteignton, Devon, his sister, Dorothy Mary Cornish Frost, born 1889 at Teignmouth, Devon, an Auctioneer's Correspondence Clerk. Robert was an Auctioneer's Articled Pupil. The family employed two domestic servants.

Robert Frost joined the Army at Bisley on the 18th of April 1916 and was approved for service three days later (not everyone who volunteered was accepted – his experience as a motorcyclist would have made him more employable). Robert enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps, Royal Tank Corps. 

Robert Frost, who was one of the first men to fight in a tank on the 15th of September 1916, knocked out on the same day to the west of Flers en Picardie – the first day tanks were used in combat. The machine guns had been removed as part of standard procedure.

New Zealand Trench Flers September 1916 By Royal Engineers No 1 Printing Company - This is photograph Q 194 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 1900-02), Public Domain,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121209

British War MedalView more

54 dinkum after her guns were removed

Allied Victory MedalView more

The tank’s crew at Elveden in Norfolk during their pre-deployment training

An early model British Mark I "male" tank, named C-15 By Ernest Brooks - This is photograph Q 2486 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 1900-09), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119588

An early model British Mark I "male" tank, named C-15, near Thiepval, on the 25th of September 1916. The tank is possibly in reserve for the Battle of Thiepval Ridge which began on the 26th of September. The tank is fitted with the wire grenade shield and steering tail. An update from Steven Pope - Notwithstanding the IWM caption, C15 was not at Thiepval on the 25th of September. She was eight miles to the east near Guillemont, waiting to be called forward for the attack on Morval – her skipper was Lt Jethro Tull.

Robert volunteered for Royal Flying Corps pilot training in February 1917, was accepted in August and was commissioned in January 1918. He was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps, Machine Gun Corps as a Gunner, Second Lieutenant and returned safely to Teignmouth, Devon where he worked as an auctioneer at an Auctioneers in Regent Street, Teignmouth, Devon.

Frost WW1 medals card

In the 3rd quarter of 1916, Robert married Margaret E Rowe which was registered at Newton Abbot, Devon. Robert married Margaret five weeks before he deployed to France with D Company. They married at the Parish church on the 22nd of July 1916 (a couple of C Company crewmen married literally the weekend before they deployed).

In the 1939 register, Robert and Margaret were living at 52, Coombe Road, Teignmouth, Devon. Robert was an Estate Agent and Auctioneer. Margaret was a housewife, born 11th of December 1894.

Robert was one of the few original crewmen who attended the 50^th Anniversary First Tank Action Dinner, held in Caxton Hall Chelsea, on the 15th of September 1966.

Margaret Elizabeth Frost died on the 13th of August 1976.

In the 4th quarter of 1976, Robert married Gladys Lilian Albon.

Robert died on the 21st of January 1980. 

Inscription: Robert William Frederic Cornish Frost F.R.I.C.S. their devoted son died 21st of January 1980 aged 87. Also, his wife (1976 - 1980) Gladys Lilian died on the 26th August 1984 aged 78.

Thanks to Stephen Pope who contacted Teign Heritage and provided the initial information and two photographs.