George Fraser

Braved enemy fire to supply heavy guns throughout the battle

George Fraser was born at Templestones, Rafford, Morayshire, on 10 October 1887. Before the First World War he worked as a chauffeur in Edinburgh. His civilian driving experience gave him a practical skill that the expanding British Army urgently required for moving ammunition and supplies to its artillery.

He attested at Cupar on 21 February 1915 and joined the Mechanical Transport branch of the Army Service Corps. He went to France on 9 March, serving with 272nd Mechanical Transport Company in support of the 12th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. His duties involved the transport of the heavy shells consumed by siege guns, whose ammunition could not be moved efficiently by ordinary infantry transport.

Fraser received the Military Medal for bravery in the field. The award was announced in the London Gazette on 11 October 1916. He subsequently earned two bars to the medal, announced on 7 and 21 October 1918. Three awards of the Military Medal were an exceptional distinction for a transport soldier. They show repeated recognition of his courage while carrying out the essential work of supplying the guns.

He completed his service with the rank of private. He left the Army following demobilization. His three awards of the Military Medal marked repeated recognition of the dangerous work performed by transport soldiers during the war.

Military Medal award notices

First award, The London Gazette, 11 October 1916, pages 9827 and 9831: His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned:— M/2/050512 Pte. G. Fraser, A.S.C. (M.T.).

First Bar, The London Gazette, 7 October 1918, page 11821: His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of a Bar to the Military Medal to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men:— M/050512 Pte. G. Fraser, M.M., A.S.C. (Edinburgh). (M.M.’s gazetted 11th October, 1916.)

Second Bar, The London Gazette, 21 October 1918, page 12397: His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of a Second Bar to the Military Medal to the undermentioned Non-Commissioned Officers and Men:— M2/050512 Pte. G. Fraser, M.M., A.S.C. (Edinburgh). (M.M. gazetted 10th October, 1916.) (1st Bar gazetted 7th October, 1918.)