A Touch of Frost.
Colonel George Albert Frost TD* Royal Artillery
Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Coronation Medal 1953. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial' & Bar.
The Man Little is presently known about George Albert Frost except what has been extracted from the London Gazette, Army Lists and very basic detail attributed to the group. On 1st April 1938 he was Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 45th (Royal Warwickshire Regiment) Anti Aircraft Battalion of the Royal Engineers, Territorial Army with the service number 74827. At the start of World War 2 on 3rd September 1939 he was mobilised for War Service and posted at home for the duration being appointed War Substantive Captain and Temporary Major in the Royal Artillery on 13th June 1943. On 11th April 1945 he was promoted to substantive Lieutenant (War substantive Captain) and was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 for his services during the conflict.
on 1st May 1947 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and on 21st April 1950 awarded the Efficiency Decoration for 18 years service in the TA, , the qualifying period having been reduced from 20 years to 12 in 1949 and war service counting double. On 1st April 1950 he was transferred from the active list to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers retaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Decoration on 13th April 1951 representing a total of 18 years service. On 18th January 1953 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of a TA unit in the Royal Artillery vice Colonel Reginald John Cash CBE MC TD DL JP and was awarded the 1953 Coronation Medal later the same year in recognition of that position. During 1958-1960 he was President of The Coventry & Rugby Master Printers Association and in 1961 became Honorary Colonel 1st Worcestershire & Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery and then Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Artillery (Territorials) and in 1962, to the 268 Regiment Royal Artillery TA. On 18th January 1963 his tenure expired as Honorary Colonel and he retired retaining the honorary rank of Colonel and handing over to his successor Colonel Frank Elliott Allday OBE TD DL. On 27th November 1964 he ceased to belong to the TA Reserve of Officers having attained the age limit and retained the rank of Honorary Colonel. It is clear that George Frost was a ‘Midlands’ man but at the date of writing, March 2009, no further detail has been located.
on 1st May 1947 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and on 21st April 1950 awarded the Efficiency Decoration for 18 years service in the TA, , the qualifying period having been reduced from 20 years to 12 in 1949 and war service counting double. On 1st April 1950 he was transferred from the active list to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers retaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Decoration on 13th April 1951 representing a total of 18 years service. On 18th January 1953 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of a TA unit in the Royal Artillery vice Colonel Reginald John Cash CBE MC TD DL JP and was awarded the 1953 Coronation Medal later the same year in recognition of that position. During 1958-1960 he was President of The Coventry & Rugby Master Printers Association and in 1961 became Honorary Colonel 1st Worcestershire & Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery and then Warwickshire Regiment, Royal Artillery (Territorials) and in 1962, to the 268 Regiment Royal Artillery TA. On 18th January 1963 his tenure expired as Honorary Colonel and he retired retaining the honorary rank of Colonel and handing over to his successor Colonel Frank Elliott Allday OBE TD DL. On 27th November 1964 he ceased to belong to the TA Reserve of Officers having attained the age limit and retained the rank of Honorary Colonel. It is clear that George Frost was a ‘Midlands’ man but at the date of writing, March 2009, no further detail has been located.
The Story The medals awarded to George Albert Frost were acquired from E-Bay on 14th October 2007. They were attractive because of the Efficiency Decoration engraved 1950 and additional clasp dated1951 and although not named, there was a silver Past President’s badge with the group from The Coventry & Rugby Master Printers Association which had been engraved on the reverse G A Frost 1958-1960. Enquiries in the London Gazette revealed the TD was dated correctly and thus awarded to George Frost. The award of the Coronation Medal was also confirmed therefore it is virtually guaranteed that his group of medals belong to Col G A Frost. Interestingly and purely by chance the miniature set of medals were seen on E-bay two months later and acquired on 14th December 2007. It transpired that the seller of the full sized group was the father of the vendor of the miniatures and that they had become separated - a lucky find! Apart from basic research nothing else has been uncovered except a listing in a book titled Before the Echoes Die Away by N D G James in which a brief mention of Colonel Frost is made. The research of course continues for more detail.
Extract from Before The Echoes Fade Away by N D G James page158
APPENDIX II
HONORARY COLONELS
1st Worcestershire & Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery to The Warwickshire Regiment Royal Artillery (Territorials)
1892 – 1900 Colonel C Lyne
1901 – 1912 No Honorary Colonels are shown in the Army Lists for these years but a note suggests that Colonel Z Walker may have been the Honorary Colonel in 1912.
1913 Colonel A H Halse
1914 – 1926 Colonel Sir Halwell Rogers
1926 – 1929 Colonel H J Walduck
1929 – 1934 Colonel A Constantine
1934 – 1939 Colonel Lord Henry Seymour DSO
1939 – 1953 Colonel A W Newman MC
1954 Vacant
1955 – 1958 Colonel The Earl of Warwick DL JP
1958 – 1961 Colonel W E Kerr
1961 – 1962 Colonel G A Frost
1962 – 1969 Colonel F E Allday CBE TD
1969 – 1972 Colonel J M Barton TD
Extract from Before The Echoes Fade Away by N D G James page158
APPENDIX II
HONORARY COLONELS
1st Worcestershire & Warwickshire Volunteer Artillery to The Warwickshire Regiment Royal Artillery (Territorials)
1892 – 1900 Colonel C Lyne
1901 – 1912 No Honorary Colonels are shown in the Army Lists for these years but a note suggests that Colonel Z Walker may have been the Honorary Colonel in 1912.
1913 Colonel A H Halse
1914 – 1926 Colonel Sir Halwell Rogers
1926 – 1929 Colonel H J Walduck
1929 – 1934 Colonel A Constantine
1934 – 1939 Colonel Lord Henry Seymour DSO
1939 – 1953 Colonel A W Newman MC
1954 Vacant
1955 – 1958 Colonel The Earl of Warwick DL JP
1958 – 1961 Colonel W E Kerr
1961 – 1962 Colonel G A Frost
1962 – 1969 Colonel F E Allday CBE TD
1969 – 1972 Colonel J M Barton TD
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1950 - Clasp 1951.
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This page last updated 14 May 14