FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT – FRANK TROTT, THE POLICEMAN WHO DIED THE DAY THE GUNS FELL SILENT

The officer who died the day the guns fell silent.

Remembering policeman Frank Trott.

In April, 1915, police constable Frank Trott who served in Porthcawl, joined the Welsh Guards along with four other police officers who served the area with him.

In September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, Frank was severely wounded from gunshots to the chest and was evacuated to England for treatment.

He would not return to the Western Front, instead, following his recovery, he served in a training battalion in England until his discharge from the army in June 1918, at which time he returned to police duties in Porthcawl.

In October 1918 Frank married Annie Mary David at St John’s Church, Newton, Porthcawl. That happiness was to last only a short while however as on the day of the Armistice, the 11th of November, Frank died of pneumonia. An illness attributable to his wartime injuries.

He is buried within the grounds of the church in which he was married, St. John’s. His grave marked by headstone of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Gareth Madge of the South Wales Police, First World War project said:

“Franks story is a particularly sad one. He was severely wounded but survived, only to die of the effects of those wounds just a short time after getting married. The sadness is even greater since he died on the very day that the guns fell silent.

“His story, along with those of all the other officers of our predecessor forces who served during the First World War can be found in a series of booklets we have created to mark the Centenary.

“It is in the telling of these stories that we hope to keep the memory of each of these brave men alive.”