Bill Fraser, S.A.S. Original

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on the 4th of January 1917, Bill Fraser was one of the S.A.S. 'Originals', serving with the unit from its formation in 1941 until its disbandment in 1945. A career soldier, Bill joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1936. Like his father before him in the First World War, Bill received his commission at the start of the war, but he did not remain with The Gordon Highlanders for long after that. Before he could return to his unit as a newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders were lost – most of the men killed and captured - in France.

Bill voluneered for the newly formed Commandos in 1940, seeing action with them at Litani River, and serving with 11 Commando until joining the newly formed 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service, in 1941. What followed was an incredible military career, and Bill received the Military Cross and Bar, Chevallier d'Legion d'Honneur, and Croix de Guerre with Palms. He survived the Western Desert Campaign, during which time he helped to blow up 37 aircraft in a single raid, and survived a 200 mile walk to safety with four his men with no food or water. After the invasion of Sicily, he was injured in Italy, surviving a blast that killed over a dozen other men. He then survived three months behind enemy lines in France, before being wounded as the Allies pressed on into Germany.

Following the disbanding of the S.A.S, Bill was posted back to the Gordon Highlanders. In 1946, he was deemed unfit for service, and left the Army. The struggles he had with alcohol and addiction, which began during the war, shaped the rest of his life and led to criminal convictions in the early 1950s – although he held a steady job at the end of his life.

When Bill died on the 22nd of January, 1975, he was only 58.

Why this project?

While many who have heard of the S.A.S.'s formation and exploits will be familiar with the names David Stirling, Jock Lewes, and Paddy Mayne, Bill Fraser remains lesser known. In spite of his time with the S.A.S. and his achievements, the quiet Aberdonian is often barely mentioned history books. Having neither David Stirling's social standing, connections and long life, Paddy Mayne's commanding presence and reputation for ferocious exploits, nor sharing Jock Lewes and Eoin McGonigal's tragic fates early in the war, Bill seems almost forgotten. While guesses might be made as to why this is – his sexuality, his alcoholism, his social standing, events after the war – this project hopes to go some way towards doing Bill justice, so that he can be remembered fairly, and kindly.

Bill's flaws, where they exist, will not be glossed over, and will sit alongside his achievements. Many men struggled with their experiences during and after the war, and it would be doing these men a disservice to either ignore the problems they had and faced, or to ignore the men themselves for the sake of a 'cleaner' version of history, or for our own comfort.

This research will be done from the ground up, relying on primary sources (original, first-hand accounts) first and foremost, but will use secondary sources for information and context.

The Researcher...
As a fellow Aberdonian whose first response to coming across Bill Fraser was 'who the heck is that?', followed by 'why have I never heard of him before?', my hope is to allow others to learn about this remarkable man. This research is being done (health permitting) in my own time, for my own personal interest, and is being freely shared so that others can learn about Bill Fraser too.

Bill's Parents, and Early Life

Bill's parents – William Fraser, from Ellon, Scotland, and Christina Strachan, from Roseearty, Scotland – met and married in India, in 1907. William was a regular soldier with the Gordon Highlanders (formerly the 92nd Regiment of Foot), and served in India and Egypt, before the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders were sent to France in October 1914. A Corporal at the time, William was commissioned from the ranks. He was wounded in March 1915, the damage to his right wrist being so extensive he was never expected to be have full use of his hand again. By winter 1916, however, he was improved enough to be sent back to he front line, this time with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

Captain William Fraser was killed in action at the Battle of Arras, on the 9th of April, 1917.

Bill was cared for by his grandmother and aunt, while Christina volunteered with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) – later Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC) – until shortly after the end of the war. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School and then, after Christina married Captain John Joseph Heath of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Bill moved to England and attended Woking Grammar School for Boys. He enlisted with the Gordon Highlanders after matriculating.