FROST, Melville King
| Service Number: | 5341 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 February 1916, Kadina, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cowell, South Australia, Australia, 16 May 1885 |
| Home Town: | Yabmana, Franklin Harbour, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Yabmana School, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, Vaulx-Vraucourt, France, 25 March 1917, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Beugnatre Communal Cemetery Grave 9. Inscription: REST OUR BLUE EYED BOY IN HEAVEN WE HOPE TO MEET YOU |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5341, Depot Battalion (AIF), Kadina, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 30 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Plymouth, England | |
| 30 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 7th Training Battalion (AIF), Marched in -- from Australia -- Rollestone, England | |
| 16 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 7th Training Battalion (AIF), Embarked Folkestone, England for -- France | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (AIF), Marched in -- from England | |
| 26 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (AIF), Marched Out To -- Join Unit | |
| 28 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, Joined Unit -- T.O.S -- France | |
| 25 Mar 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Wounded In Action -- In the area of "Sunken Road" Vaulx-Vraucourt, France | |
| 25 Mar 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5341, 27th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Died of Wounds Received In Action -- In the area of Vaulx-Vraucourt, France |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cowell RSL
Melville was the third son of John King Frost and Margaret Gordon Frost nee Cole and was born at Cowell in 1885. Melville Frost had five siblings, Mary, Florence, John, Charles and Robert. Melville lived with his parents and attended the Yabmana Divisional State School. After leaving school he lived at home and managed and worked the family farm for his parents until he enlisted at Kadina on 22 February 1916.
According to his family Melville was of a studious nature, highly respected, and took an active part in all sports. At the time of his departure he was secretary of the Narridy Creek Rifle Club and of the Yabmana branch of the Agricultural Bureau.
At enlistment he presented as 5 feet 10 inches with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. As a member of the 14th Reinforcements for the 27th Battalion, Private Frost embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 12 August 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on 30 September 1916.
After further training in England he and his mates embarked at Folkestone, England on 16 November and disembarked in France the following day. On 26 December 1916 they marched out of the Base Depot at Etaples and were taken on the strength of the 27th Battalion two days later.
Private Melville Frost was wounded in action at Lagnicourt, France on 25 March 1917 and died of his wounds that day. Melville was buried at Beugnatre Communal Cemetery France in Grave No. 9
Having lost a son in March 1917 it was to be a grief filled year for Margaret Frost and her family, when on 2 September 1917 her beloved husband John and father of their children died. John Frost is buried in the Cowell Cemetery.
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