Person

Richard Frost was born in 10 April 1898 in South Moor. His father was John Frost who was born in Norfolk in 1863 where he had worked as an agricultural labourer before becoming a horse-keeper underground in the mining industry in Durham. His mother was Rebecca Frost nee Kemp, a farm labourer’s daughter born in 1861 in Norfolk. His parents married around 1883 and had nine known children, made up of seven boys and two girls.

The first five children Frost children were born in Norfolk before the family moved to County Durham some time between 1891 and 1894. Richard was the second youngest of the children. In 1901 the family lived at 9 Poplar Street, South Moor. By 1911 they had moved to 10 Lime Street, South Moor.

Richard joined the Royal Navy as a stoker on 30 May 1916 to serve for the duration of hostilities. He was given the service number K34149. His service record notes that he was a coal miner in civilian life and had previously served in and transferred from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) with the service number TZ/5339. He joined the crew of the battlecruiser HMS Tiger where he served until he died from pneumonia on HM Hospital Ship Soudan on 9 July 1918 aged 19.

Richard’s body was returned to his home village of South Moor and he was buried in St George’s Churchyard. His family arranged for the following inscription on his gravestone:

“He died for his home and country and his end was peace”.

He was honoured on the Crucifix and Plaques 1914-18 at St George’s Church and the Memorial Park 1914-18, South Moor.

Richard Frost was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: South Moor

Birth date: 10-Apr-1898

Death date: 09-Jul-1918

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 9 Poplar Street, South Moor (1901 census)
10 Lime Street, South Moor (1911 census)

Employment: Coal miner (1916 service record)

Family: Parents: John Frost (b 1863), Rebecca Frost nee Kemp (b 1861)
Siblings: John Henry Frost (b 1884), Christopher Charles Frost (b 1887), Herbert William Frost (b 1887), Ernest Edward Frost (b 1888), Walter Frost (b 1889), Rosa Ellen Frost (b 1894), Arthur Frost (b 1897), Lucy Frost (b 1900)

Military service:

TZ/5339
Ordinary seaman
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
K34149
Stoker 1st class, 30 May 1916
Royal Navy
HMS Tiger

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): St George’s Churchyard, South Moor (grave north side 21.344)
Crucifix and Plaques 1914-18, St George’s Church, South Moor
Memorial Park 1914-18, South Moor

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham