Pte
William Stuart Fraser
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1881 |
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Place of birth: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Maltman |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 352346 |
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Units: — Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), 1/9th Bn. (Highlanders) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Pheasant Trench, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 36 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 13 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 27/10/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 27/10/1920 |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Private William Stuart Fraser served with the 1/9th Battalion of the Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment which was part of the 154th Brigade of the 51st (Highland) Division. The (Highland) Division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. Starting from the 20th of September the 1/9th Battalion of Private William Fraser was involved in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge.
On the 20th of September 1917 at Zero Hour 5.40 a.m. the British artillery put down a covering barrage. The men of the 9th Royal Scots got well away and advanced close behind the barrage with the Seaforths on their right side. The Royal Scots encountered strong resistance in and around Pheasant Trench. Considerable opposition came from strong points at Vieilles Maisons. But these were speedily overcome.
On the left from Poelkappelle Road to the Lekkerboterbeek, the attacking waves of “B” Company were stopped by heavy machine gun fire and the men were forced to withdraw to their original lines. Once reorganised they advanced again and managed to reach Phaesent trench. On finding the trench still occupied by Germans, the right flank commander and his unit worked their way along it, while the second wave of “D” company of the 9th Battalion passed by. Around 6.45 a.m. Phaesant Trench on the right between Vieilles Maisons and New Houses, including all adjacent strong points, was captured and consolidated.
The attack was continued and the 9th Royal Scots moved on to take Flora Cottage. They came under enfilade fire from Hübner Farm, in the 58th Division area, to their right. Lewis guns were sent to help the Londoners of the 58th Division to capture Hübner Farm. The Royals Scots went on and took their objective, the Blue Line. The Seaforths and 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders passed through in good time. On their way they cleared the remaining resistance in Pheasant trench.
Throughout the rest of the day the Germans intermittently shelled the Langemark-Poelkappelle Line. After a heavy bombardment, the Germans assembled for a counter attack around 6 p.m. The weight of the attack was directed on the left flank of the Brigade resulting in the Seaforths to retire to Pheasant Trench. Once the men were rallied and after collecting ammunition they were able to recapture the lost ground.
Private William Fraser was killed in action on the 20th of September 1917 during the attack on Pheasant Trench. His remains were never recovered or never identified. Private William Fraser is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the 20th of September 1917 at Zero Hour 5.40 a.m. the British artillery put down a covering barrage. The men of the 9th Royal Scots got well away and advanced close behind the barrage with the Seaforths on their right side. The Royal Scots encountered strong resistance in and around Pheasant Trench. Considerable opposition came from strong points at Vieilles Maisons. But these were speedily overcome.
On the left from Poelkappelle Road to the Lekkerboterbeek, the attacking waves of “B” Company were stopped by heavy machine gun fire and the men were forced to withdraw to their original lines. Once reorganised they advanced again and managed to reach Phaesent trench. On finding the trench still occupied by Germans, the right flank commander and his unit worked their way along it, while the second wave of “D” company of the 9th Battalion passed by. Around 6.45 a.m. Phaesant Trench on the right between Vieilles Maisons and New Houses, including all adjacent strong points, was captured and consolidated.
The attack was continued and the 9th Royal Scots moved on to take Flora Cottage. They came under enfilade fire from Hübner Farm, in the 58th Division area, to their right. Lewis guns were sent to help the Londoners of the 58th Division to capture Hübner Farm. The Royals Scots went on and took their objective, the Blue Line. The Seaforths and 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders passed through in good time. On their way they cleared the remaining resistance in Pheasant trench.
Throughout the rest of the day the Germans intermittently shelled the Langemark-Poelkappelle Line. After a heavy bombardment, the Germans assembled for a counter attack around 6 p.m. The weight of the attack was directed on the left flank of the Brigade resulting in the Seaforths to retire to Pheasant Trench. Once the men were rallied and after collecting ammunition they were able to recapture the lost ground.
Private William Fraser was killed in action on the 20th of September 1917 during the attack on Pheasant Trench. His remains were never recovered or never identified. Private William Fraser is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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9 Battalion The Royal Scots , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2887/5). Further reference |
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Ewing J., The Royal Scots: 1914-1919, (Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1925), pg. 475-479. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 76, 79-80. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/839247 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=da9092eb-9623-48eb-a3ba-9f829a403f93 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1251162 |