Arthur Douglas Frost

Arthur Douglas Frost was born in Dore on 19th March 1895, the seventh of eight surviving children of Joseph Frost, the manager of a cutlery works, and his wife Eliza Harriett (née Gillott); a brother had died in infancy. The family had moved to Dore by late 1890. Between 1889 and 1901, they moved from Devonshire Terrace to Ivy Bank, at the top of Dore Road, where they were still living in 1911. However, by January 1915, they had moved to 50 Marlborough Road, in Sheffield.

Arthur was baptised in Dore on 22nd March 1896. He attended Dore School from January 1899 until August 1903, when he was eight. Presumably, he then attended another school, and in 1911 he was working as a junior clerk in a cutlery works.

Arthur enlisted on 4th January 1915. He was 19 years and 9 months old, and 5’4” tall, weighing 154 lb; he was still working as a clerk, and was living with his parents on Marlborough Road. The Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 12th May 1916 states that, before he joined the army, he was employed at Messrs. Needham, Veall and Tyzack, who made cutlery, knives, scissors and razors under the “Eye-Witness” brand.

Arthur served as Private 12/1238 in the 12th York and Lancaster Regiment (the Sheffield City Battalion). He was sent with the Battalion to Egypt, embarking at Devonport on 20th December 1915 and disembarking in Alexandria on 1st January 1916. The Battalion left Egypt on 10th March 1916, disembarking in Marseille on 16th March, and then moving up to the Somme.

Arthur was one of six men killed on 4th May 1916 when a German shell hit the dugout in which they were situated. They were buried in the Sucrerie Military Cemetery. The personal inscription on Arthur’s headstone is the single word BLESSED. He was awarded the Victory and British Medals.