Born in Madras, India, c. September 1816, and baptised at Cannora, India, on the 30th of October 1816, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Frith of the 25th Native Infantry, H.E.I.C.S. [Honourable East India Company Service], and his wife, Jane Ellis (nee Kerr).
His brother, the Revd. J. Frith, wrote on his (Edmund Bentley's) behalf to Lord Fitzroy Somerset in September of 1832 requesting that he might be considered for a commission. He explained that he was writing in lieu of their uncle, Lieutenant-Colonel Frith of the 38th Foot, who had arranged to support him in his application, but who had recently died in India, following a fall from his gig.
Edmund Bentley Frith himself wrote to the Horse Guards shortly before he entered the Army. His address was given as 14 Bickerton Row, Exmouth, Devon.
Ensign in the 25th Foot. 31st of October 1834.
Lieutenant, 25th Foot: 3rd of November 1837.
Paymaster in the 45th Foot: 7th of September 1841.
Paymaster in the 10th Hussars: 1st of July 1842.
Paymaster in the 13th Light Dragoons: 7th of July 1848.
Honorary Major, 13th Light Dragoons: 1st of January 1860.
To Honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and retired from the Army on the 8th of May 1867.
Paymaster Frith served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the reconnaissance of the Danube, the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Tchernya; also the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal and four Clasps.), He also served with the 10th Hussars in India during 1846-48.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.
[PB: medals from his time in India?]/p>
He later lived at a number of places, including The Club Chambers, Regent Street, London; 212, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London; 77, Cumberland Place, Pimlico; and Weir Cottage, Topsham Road, Exeter.
1881 Census
16, Old Burlington Street, St. James's, Westminster.
The 1881 Census shows him as a Boarder, a Lt. Colonel, Half-pay, aged 63 years, born in Madras, India.
A widowed woman, aged 56, was shown as Head of Household (Housekeeper), and a young Domestic Servant was also shown.
Died at Fulham, London, on the 21st of October 1884, aged 67 years.
He died at 11, Barclay Road, Fulham, London, but is shown as being formerly of 16, Old Burlington Street, London.
In his will he left everything to his brother, the Revd, John Frith, of The Cross, Inniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland.