John Alexander Fraser
Encyclopedia
Major John Alexander Fraser GC
MC
and Bar
(1895 or 1896–29 October 1943) was a British
colonial officer who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
, the highest British
(and Commonwealth
) award for bravery out of combat, for his "magnificent conduct" and "outstanding courage" in resisting Japanese torture during the Second World War.
in either 1895 or 1896, and educated at Edinburgh University, he was commissioned into the Royal Scots Fusiliers
during the First World War. He served as a machine gun
officer and won the Military Cross
(MC) in 1916. The MC was London Gazette on 20 October 1916, and the citation read:
He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps
on 27 March 1916, was promoted lieutenant
on 1 November 1916, and won a bar
to his MC in 1917, gazetted 17 December 1917 (the citation was not published). He later commanded a machine gun company, with the acting rank of major, and was permitted to retain that rank when he was demobilised.
when the Japanese invaded in 1941. Interned in the Civil Internment Camp in Stanley he was instrumental in organising escape plans and operated a radio in secret. The suspicions of the Japanese were aroused and Fraser was arrested and severely tortured but refused to betray his companions. The Japanese, unable to break his resistance, put him before a firing squad on 29 October 1943. He is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery.
The full citation for his GC was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 25 October 1946 and read:
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(1895 or 1896–29 October 1943) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial officer who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, the highest British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
) award for bravery out of combat, for his "magnificent conduct" and "outstanding courage" in resisting Japanese torture during the Second World War.
First World War
Born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in either 1895 or 1896, and educated at Edinburgh University, he was commissioned into the Royal Scots Fusiliers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
during the First World War. He served as a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
officer and won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) in 1916. The MC was London Gazette on 20 October 1916, and the citation read:
He transferred to the Machine Gun Corps
Machine Gun Corps
The Machine Gun Corps was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in World War I. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tanks in combat, and the branch was subsequently turned into the Tank...
on 27 March 1916, was promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 1 November 1916, and won a bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his MC in 1917, gazetted 17 December 1917 (the citation was not published). He later commanded a machine gun company, with the acting rank of major, and was permitted to retain that rank when he was demobilised.
Second World War
Having been called to the Bar in 1931, Fraser was an Assistant Attorney General in the Colonial Service in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
when the Japanese invaded in 1941. Interned in the Civil Internment Camp in Stanley he was instrumental in organising escape plans and operated a radio in secret. The suspicions of the Japanese were aroused and Fraser was arrested and severely tortured but refused to betray his companions. The Japanese, unable to break his resistance, put him before a firing squad on 29 October 1943. He is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery.
The full citation for his GC was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 25 October 1946 and read: