SAS Fraser, William (Bill)

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Fraser ​

• FORENAME

William (Bill) ​

• UNIT

L Detachment SAS + 1 SAS (A Squadron) ​

• RANK

Lieutenant + Captain (T/Major) ​

• NUMBER

132513 ​

• AWARD

Military Cross and bar, Croix de Guerre with Palm (Fr) ​

• PLACE

North Africa 1942 Normandy 1944 ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

parent unit 1 Bn Gordon Highlanders + Army Air Corps​

born 4.1.1917 Aberdeen​

resided Aberdeen​

enlisted 27.5.1936 (service number 2876787)​

1 Bn Gordon Highlanders (C Company)​

Lance Corporal 1937​

commissioned 2Lt 25.5.1940​

11 Commando (8 Troop) 1941 (Lt)​

L Detachment 1941-42 (joined 18.8.1941) (Lt)​

1 SAS (A Squadron) 1942-43 (Lt)​

Special Raiding Squadron (1 Troop) 1943 (Cap)​

1 SAS (A Squadron) 1944-45​

WIA 27.3.1945​

discharged 1948​

purchasing clerk, Co-operative Society, Warwick​

died 22.1.1975​

Canley Crematorium, Coventry​

​

 

[chrispendlebury]

I have been researching my great uncle William Gordon 'Jimmy' Brough who was an original member of the L Detachment SAS. As I have trawled through much information I have begun to realise that Bill Fraser is a semi-forgotten member of the originals. He was possibly gay; who cares. It seems that he was respected and followed by many other brave men. He fought through all the SAS campaigns of WWII; was wounded several times; was obviously respected. After the war he fell off the rails; there but for the grace of god go the rest of us. He had done and seen many difficult things. I, for one, think that Major Bill Fraser was a brave and fine man.

 

[Stu 21]

Bill was born on 4.1.1917 in Aberdeen and died 22.1.1975 in Leamington Spa.

 

[Mountain Biker]

I worked with Bill at @ Wallwin Pumps in Warwick from 1973 until 1975. ianmtnbiker@gmail.com

 

[Tonybullant]

I have been researching my great uncle William Gordon 'Jimmy' Brough who was an original member of the L Detachment SAS. As I have trawled through much information I have begun to realise that Bill Fraser is a semi-forgotten member of the originals. He was possibly gay; who cares. It seems that he was respected and followed by many other brave men. He fought through all the SAS campaigns of WWII; was wounded several times; was obviously respected. After the war he fell off the rails; there but for the grace of god go the rest of us. He had done and seen many difficult things. I, for one, think that Major Bill Fraser was a brave and fine man.

I worked with Bill Fraser at Wallwin Pumps in Warwick from 1966 to 1967. He gave me a 35mm roll of film to develop and print which had scenes from his time with the LRDG. I did not realise how much of a war hero he was until reading of his exploits later. He did drink heavily but I think at home but there was nothing in his appearance or behaviour to indicate he was gay. I feel very proud to have known him.

 

[Stu 21]

Bill was awarded the Croix de Guerre with silver star (awarded at divisional level) 1/3/48 according to his military file. He was also awarded France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur on 7/1/44. It was not noted on his British military file but a document from the French Service des décorations
Bureau des propositions et des décorations françaises aux étrangers stated that the
certificate and medal were forwarded on the 7/5/1946, presumably to the War Office.

 

[RLSTC]

Does anyone know if there are any memorials to Bill in his home town of Aberdeen?

 

[jdm]

There is no memorial in Bill Fraser's home town of Aberdeen but he is mentioned within a display in the superb Gordon Highlanders Museum, as in Gordon Highlanders that contibuted to special operations. Interestingly (2025) the book by Tom Petch, 'SAS Speed Aggression Surprise' is on sale at the museum and this book covers Bill Fraser's military career well. Additionally the book was reviewed by the Aberdeen daily, the Press and Journal of June 3, 2023. Online access is available but might be conditional on subscription.