BORN HULL 1893. SON OF JACOB A. & MARGARET A. FROST, OF 519 ANLABY ROAD, HULL (FISH SHOP) HE RESIDED WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AT 152 ALBERT AVENUE. HE WENT TO SEA WITH HIS FATHER ON HIS 14TH BIRTHDAY AND WAS ONE OF HULL’S YOUNGEST SKIPPERS. HIS FATHER WAS ALSO A SKIPPER AND KNOWN AS ‘FREEZER’ FROST ON HULL FISH DOCK. ROBERT WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL IN 1915, FOR MERITORIOUS WORK MINE SWEEPING, AFTER THE GERMAN RAID ON SCARBOROUGH. HE SWEPT UP 21 MINES IN 15 MINUTES AND DESTROYED THEM WITH RIFLE FIRE. HE WAS A TRINITY SCHOOL LAD AND APPRENTICED WITH PICKERING AND HALDANE FISHING FLEETS. HE HAD BEEN IN THE ROYAL NAVY RESERVES AND WAS RECALLED AT THE START OF THE WAR.
HE SACRIFICED FINANCIALLY TO GO MINE SWEEPING, BUT ENJOYED HIS WORK. IT WOULD COST HIM HIS LIFE IN 1916, AGED ONLY 23. HE IS LISTED ON THE TRINITY HOUSE MEMORIAL AND NAVY RECORDS. HIS STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH APPEARS IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 19TH FEBRUARY 1915. *
HE IS BURIED AT HULL WESTERN CEMETERY.
The “Orcades” was a former Grimsby trawler, employed as a minesweeper. Sank after hitting a mine off Grimsby in position 53.45N 00.51E with loss of six men, probably one of a field laid by UC.7.” Here are the men who died:
CAMERON, Duncan, Trimmer, RNR, TS 632, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
CULLEY, Benjamin A, Trimmer, RNR, TS 153, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
FROST, Robert, Ty/Skipper, RNR, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
JOHNSON, Ernest, 2nd Hand, RNR, SA 336, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
STEER, Harry, Deck Hand, RNR, DA 3061, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
WOOLER, Harry D, Leading Seaman, RNR, B 4346, Orcades, 14 April 1916, ship lost
ORCADES was 270-tons, launched in 1911 by Cochrane & Sons, Selby for Arctic Steam Fishing Co. Ltd, Grimsby. Requisitioned in August 1914 as Admiralty Trawler No.40 Port Reg: GY.291
Aft machinery of 71hp 3-cylinder triple expansion steam engine that used one boiler. Machinery manufactured by Amos & Smith Ltd Hull; she had one deck and a 69ft quarter deck.
She detonated a contact mine laid by a U-boat
