The 1914/15 Star Trio awarded to Harry Crabtree Frost who served through the campaigns in Sinai and Palestine, and was wounded in August 1916.

 

Harry Crabtree Frost was born 5th October 1886 at Crumpstall, Lancashire, England. Son of John and Adelaine Frost (née Pickington). The family emigrated to New Zealand sometime early in the 1900s, settling at Wiri. At the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in mid-1915, Frost was working for his father on the family farm. He embarked with the 8th Reinforcements, Auckland Mounted Rifles. During the battle at Bir el Abd on 9th August 1916 - a day described as the hardest-fought action of the whole Sinai Campaign - Frost suffered a gunshot wound to his foot and was evacuated to Port Said and then Cairo. On recovery he returned to his unit in the field in October 1916, and served continuously apart for brief periods in hospital or rest camp, until finally being struck down with Malaria in October 1918. He returned to New Zealand and was medically discharged in 1919. During the Second World War Frost served with the Guards Vital Points in the Waikato.

 

The Auckland War Memorial Museum Scars on the Heart exhibition has a quote from Harry Frost: "Richon is the first Jewish colony in Palestine...It has special associations for the New Zealanders as the severe action of Ayun Kara was fought near there on November 14th, 1917...the morning after the fight the people gave us a great reception, and wine, fruit, brown bread, etc, were showered on us in great profusion - a very welcome change after some six weeks on hard tack."

 

Harry Frost died in Auckland on 18th August 1968 and is buried in Waikumete Cemetery.

 

The trio is correctly impressed 13/2566 TPR. H.C. FROST. N.Z.E.F. and the WW2 pair is unnamed as issued, all swing mounted as-worn by Frost on a bar with original ribbons.

Service file held at Archives New Zealand