WW1 Military Medal and Pair – Sgt. Alexander Edward Fraser M.M. – 6th Seaforth Highlanders – POW Who Died of Wounds 1918
Sergeant Alexander Edward Fraser M.M. was born on 27 November 1887, the son of Alexander and Margaret Fraser. Following the death of his father, his widowed mother later settled in Elgin, Morayshire, where by 1911 she was residing in Commerce Street alongside Alexander’s sister, Elizabeth. Before the war Fraser worked as a dental mechanic, a skilled civilian profession requiring precision and technical ability.
He enlisted at Elgin in 1915 into the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Territorial Force), a battalion which would go on to suffer heavily during some of the fiercest fighting on the Western Front. Fraser served in France with the battalion and rose to the rank of Sergeant, serving in “C” Company. At some stage during his service he distinguished himself sufficiently to be awarded the Military Medal, the gallantry decoration instituted in 1916 for bravery in the field by non-commissioned officers and men. The award was confirmed by April 1917.
By March 1918 the German Army had launched its great Spring Offensive, known as the Kaiserschlacht, smashing into British positions around St Quentin and Cambrai. The 6th Seaforths were heavily engaged during this desperate period of retreat and confused fighting. During the fighting between 21st and 23rd March 1918, Sergeant Fraser was reported missing in France, later confirmed to have been wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans. Records note:
“Sgt. No. 266144 “C” Coy Seaf. Highrs. Missing 21–23.3.18 France”
Subsequent reports established that Fraser had been admitted to Cambrai Military Hospital suffering from severe wounds received in action. Tragically, he died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on 27 March 1918. A later annotation on his casualty record confirms:
“Sgt. A.E. Fraser 266144 Seaforths died 27.3.18 from head wounds. Buried at Cambrai Military Cemetery.”
He was buried at Cambrai East Military Cemetery, his grave recorded as VI.B.65. His sacrifice was commemorated locally upon the Elgin War Memorial. Contemporary references also note that his mother had resided in Elgin for approximately twenty-eight years.
An especially poignant and historically important Military Medal group to a gallant Seaforth Highlander NCO who was decorated for bravery, captured during the German Spring Offensive, and died of wounds in enemy hands in March 1918.
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