William Archibald Kenneth Fraser: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|British Army general (1886–1969)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
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{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= William Archibald Kenneth Fraser
|name= William Archibald Kenneth Fraser
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|branch= [[British Indian Army]]
|branch= [[British Indian Army]]
|serviceyears= 1905–1945
|serviceyears= 1905–1945
|servicenumber= 8268
|rank= [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]]
|rank= [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]]
|unit=  
|unit=  
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==Military career==
==Military career==
Born in British India, Fraser was the son of Colonel James Fraser of the [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] and Susan Alberta Graves of [[County Waterford]].<ref name="birth">''India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947''</ref><ref>''Ireland, Census, 1901''</ref> His father died in 1899 and the family returned to Ireland, where he was educated in [[Dublin]]. He attended the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] and then joined the [[Indian Army]] in 1905.<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/FRASER7.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> He served with the [[9th Queen's Royal Lancers]] and [[16th The Queen's Lancers]] on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] during the [[First World War]], taking part in the [[Great Retreat]] in August 1914, the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]] in March 1915 and the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April 1917.<ref name=lh/>
Born in British India, Fraser was the son of Colonel James Fraser of the [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] and Susan Alberta Graves of [[County Waterford]].<ref name="birth">''India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947''</ref><ref>''Ireland, Census, 1901''</ref> His father died in 1899 and the family returned to Ireland, where he was educated in [[Dublin]]. He attended the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] and then joined the [[Indian Army]] in 1905.<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/FRASER7.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> He served with the [[9th Queen's Royal Lancers]] and [[16th The Queen's Lancers]] on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] during the [[First World War]], taking part in the [[Great Retreat]] in August 1914, the [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle]] in March 1915 and the [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Battle of Arras]] in April 1917.<ref name=lh/>


Fraser became Commanding Officer of the [[South Persia Rifles]] in 1919, Assistant Quartermaster General in 1920, and Inspector General of the South Persia Rifles later that year.<ref name=lh/> He went on to be military [[attaché]] in [[Kabul]] in 1922, military attaché in [[Teheran]] in 1924 and military Secretary to the [[List of Governors of Bengal|Governor of Bengal]] in 1930.<ref name=lh/> He was made Commandant of [[12th Cavalry (Frontier Force)]] and Commander of the Jubbulpore Brigade in 1935, a General Staff Officer Grade 1 at Lahore District in 1936 and Commander of the [[5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade|Mhow Brigade]] in 1937.<ref name=lh/>
Fraser became Commanding Officer of the [[South Persia Rifles]] in 1919, Assistant Quartermaster General in 1920, and Inspector General of the South Persia Rifles later that year.<ref name=lh/> He went on to be military [[attaché]] in [[Kabul]] in 1922, military attaché in [[Teheran]] in 1924 and military Secretary to the [[List of Governors of Bengal|Governor of Bengal]] in 1930.<ref name=lh/> He was made Commandant of [[12th Cavalry (Frontier Force)]] and Commander of the Jubbulpore Brigade in 1935, a General Staff Officer Grade 1 at Lahore District in 1936 and Commander of the [[5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade|Mhow Brigade]] in 1937.<ref name=lh/>
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Fraser served in the [[Second World War]] and, having been promoted to [[major general]] on 26 December 1940 (with seniority from 21 April),<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35105|page=1509| supp=y| date=11 March 1941}}</ref> he became Commander of the [[10th Indian Infantry Division]] on 15 January 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35127| date=4 April 1941|page=1971}}</ref>
Fraser served in the [[Second World War]] and, having been promoted to [[major general]] on 26 December 1940 (with seniority from 21 April),<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35105|page=1509| supp=y| date=11 March 1941}}</ref> he became Commander of the [[10th Indian Infantry Division]] on 15 January 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35127| date=4 April 1941|page=1971}}</ref>


During the [[Anglo-Iraqi War]] in 1941, the ground forces from [[British Raj|India]] that landed in [[Basra]] were initially part of an operation codenamed [[Operation Sabine]] and, as a result, the force itself was known as [[Iraqforce|Sabine Force]]. Fraser, commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, arrived in Basra on 18 April with his headquarters, one brigade of infantry and a regiment of artillery and assumed command of all ground forces in the [[Kingdom of Iraq]].<ref>Playfair, p. 179.</ref> The name [[Iraqforce]] replaced Sabine Force and,<ref>Lyman, p.19</ref> as force levels built up, Fraser was succeeded as commander of Iraqforce on 8 May by a more senior commander,[Lieutenant General [[Edward Quinan]].<ref>Playfair, p. 186.</ref> On 16 May, having fallen sick, Fraser was replaced as commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division by Major General [[William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim|William Slim]].<ref>Kempton, p. 71</ref> Fraser retired on 1 June 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35241| date=8 August 1941|page=4584}}</ref>
During the [[Anglo-Iraqi War]] in 1941, the ground forces from [[British Raj|India]] that landed in [[Basra]] were initially part of an operation codenamed [[Operation Sabine]] and, as a result, the force itself was known as [[Iraqforce|Sabine Force]]. Fraser, commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, arrived in Basra on 18 April with his headquarters, one brigade of infantry and a regiment of artillery and assumed command of all ground forces in the [[Kingdom of Iraq]].<ref>Playfair, p. 179.</ref> The name [[Iraqforce]] replaced Sabine Force and,<ref>Lyman, p. 19</ref> as force levels built up, Fraser was succeeded as commander of Iraqforce on 8 May by a more senior commander, Lieutenant General [[Edward Quinan]].<ref>Playfair, p. 186.</ref> On 16 May, having fallen sick, Fraser was replaced as commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division by Major General [[William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim|William Slim]].<ref>Kempton, p. 71</ref> Fraser retired on 1 June 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=35241| date=8 August 1941|page=4584}}</ref>


Fraser was then re-employed by the British Army in the rank of colonel from 18 December 1941 until November 1945 as the military attaché in Teheran; he was restored to the rank of major general on retiring once again.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=37503| date=15 March 1946|page=1423| supp=y}}</ref>
Fraser was then re-employed by the British Army in the rank of colonel from 18 December 1941 until November 1945 as the military attaché in Teheran; he was restored to the rank of major general on retiring once again.<ref>{{London Gazette| issue=37503| date=15 March 1946|page=1423| supp=y}}</ref>
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==External references==
==External references==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Fraser/William_Archibald_Kenneth/Great_Britain.html |title=Generals of World War II |accessdate=28 July 2007 |last=Ammentorp|first=Steen }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Fraser/William_Archibald_Kenneth/Great_Britain.html |title=Generals of World War II |accessdate=28 July 2007 |last=Ammentorp|first=Steen }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/OOBDefault.aspx |title=Orders of Battle.com |accessdate=28 July 2007 |last= |first=}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/OOBDefault.aspx |title=Orders of Battle.com |accessdate=28 July 2007 }}
* [http://www.generals.dk/general/Fraser/William_Archibald_Kenneth/Great_Britain.html Portrait and Biography]
* [http://www.generals.dk/general/Fraser/William_Archibald_Kenneth/Great_Britain.html Portrait and Biography]


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[[Category:Members of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:British military attachés]]
[[Category:British Indian Army generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]]

Latest revision as of 22:26, 9 October 2022


William Archibald Kenneth Fraser
Born(1886-12-19)19 December 1886
British India
Died9 February 1969(1969-02-09) (aged 82)
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Indian Army
Years of service1905–1945
RankMajor General
Service number8268
Commands heldIraqforce (1941)
10th Indian Infantry Division (1941)
Mhow Brigade (1937–40)
Jubbulpore Brigade (1937)
12th Cavalry (Frontier Force) (1933–35)
South Persia Rifles (1919–20)
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Member of the Royal Victorian Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
Croix de guerre (Belgium)
Order of Astaur (Afghanistan)

Major General William Archibald Kenneth Fraser, CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MVO, MC (19 December 1886 – 9 February 1969) was an officer in the British Indian Army during the First and Second World Wars.

Military career[edit]

Born in British India, Fraser was the son of Colonel James Fraser of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Susan Alberta Graves of County Waterford.[1][2] His father died in 1899 and the family returned to Ireland, where he was educated in Dublin. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and then joined the Indian Army in 1905.[3] He served with the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and 16th The Queen's Lancers on the Western Front during the First World War, taking part in the Great Retreat in August 1914, the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and the Battle of Arras in April 1917.[3]

Fraser became Commanding Officer of the South Persia Rifles in 1919, Assistant Quartermaster General in 1920, and Inspector General of the South Persia Rifles later that year.[3] He went on to be military attaché in Kabul in 1922, military attaché in Teheran in 1924 and military Secretary to the Governor of Bengal in 1930.[3] He was made Commandant of 12th Cavalry (Frontier Force) and Commander of the Jubbulpore Brigade in 1935, a General Staff Officer Grade 1 at Lahore District in 1936 and Commander of the Mhow Brigade in 1937.[3]

Fraser served in the Second World War and, having been promoted to major general on 26 December 1940 (with seniority from 21 April),[4] he became Commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division on 15 January 1941.[5]

During the Anglo-Iraqi War in 1941, the ground forces from India that landed in Basra were initially part of an operation codenamed Operation Sabine and, as a result, the force itself was known as Sabine Force. Fraser, commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, arrived in Basra on 18 April with his headquarters, one brigade of infantry and a regiment of artillery and assumed command of all ground forces in the Kingdom of Iraq.[6] The name Iraqforce replaced Sabine Force and,[7] as force levels built up, Fraser was succeeded as commander of Iraqforce on 8 May by a more senior commander, Lieutenant General Edward Quinan.[8] On 16 May, having fallen sick, Fraser was replaced as commander of the 10th Indian Infantry Division by Major General William Slim.[9] Fraser retired on 1 June 1941.[10]

Fraser was then re-employed by the British Army in the rank of colonel from 18 December 1941 until November 1945 as the military attaché in Teheran; he was restored to the rank of major general on retiring once again.[11]

Honours and Decorations[edit]

Personal life[edit]

Fraser married in 1920 Cicely Annie Bill, widow of John Hugo Hepburn Bill of the Indian Civil Service (they had married in 1911 and he was killed by Kurds on 3 November 1919 while lieutenant colonel and Political Officer, Mosul, late resident at Bushire), daughter of Major Robert W. Bill and had one daughter, born 27 November 1923.

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947
  2. ↑ Ireland, Census, 1901
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  4. ↑ "No. 35105". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 March 1941. p. 1509.
  5. ↑ "No. 35127". The London Gazette. 4 April 1941. p. 1971.
  6. ↑ Playfair, p. 179.
  7. ↑ Lyman, p. 19
  8. ↑ Playfair, p. 186.
  9. ↑ Kempton, p. 71
  10. ↑ "No. 35241". The London Gazette. 8 August 1941. p. 4584.
  11. ↑ "No. 37503". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 1946. p. 1423.
  12. ↑ "No. 35029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1941. p. 3.
  13. ↑ "No. 32751". The London Gazette. 29 September 1922. p. 6893.
  14. ↑ "No. 31547". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 1919. p. 11458.
  15. ↑ "No. 32361". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 1921. p. 4888.
  16. ↑ "No. 33368". The London Gazette. 7 November 2012. p. 2017.
  17. ↑ "No. 29438". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1916. p. 578.
  18. ↑ "No. 29422". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1915. p. 75.
  19. ↑ "No. 38288". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1948. p. 2921.

References[edit]

  • Kempton, Chris (2003). Loyalty and Honour: the Indian Army: September 1939 – August 1947. Part I: Divisions. Milton Keynes: Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-228-5.
  • Lyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford, New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
  • Mackenzie, Compton (1951). Eastern Epic. London: Chatto & Windus. OCLC 1412578.
  • Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; with Flynn, Captain F.C. (R.N.); Molony, Brigadier C.J.C. & Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S.E. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO:1956]. Butler, J.R.M (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume II: The Germans come to the help of their Ally (1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-066-1.
  • Indian Army List (various dates)
  • Watson, Major-General W.A. King George's Own Central India Horse.

External references[edit]

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