{"product_id":"6th-seaforth-highlanders-ww1-military-medal-group-dow-as-pow-cambrai-1918-elgin","title":"6th Seaforth Highlanders WW1 Military Medal Group DOW as POW Cambrai 1918 Elgin","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWW1 Military Medal and Pair – Sgt. Alexander Edward Fraser M.M. – 6th Seaforth Highlanders – POW Who Died of Wounds 1918\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSergeant Alexander Edward Fraser M.M.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on\u003cb\u003e 27 November 1887\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eAlexander and Margaret Fraser\u003c\/b\u003e. Following the death of his father, his widowed mother later settled in \u003cb\u003eElgin, Morayshire\u003c\/b\u003e, where by 1911 she was residing in Commerce Street alongside Alexander’s sister, Elizabeth. Before the war Fraser worked as a \u003cb\u003edental mechanic\u003c\/b\u003e, a skilled civilian profession requiring precision and technical ability.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted at \u003cb\u003eElgin in 1915\u003c\/b\u003e into the \u003cb\u003e6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Territorial Force)\u003c\/b\u003e, 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 \u003cb\u003eSergeant\u003c\/b\u003e, serving in “C” Company. At some stage during his service he distinguished himself sufficiently to be awarded the \u003cb\u003eMilitary Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, the gallantry decoration instituted in 1916 for bravery in the field by non-commissioned officers and men. The award was confirmed by April 1917.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy March 1918 the German Army had launched its great Spring Offensive, known as the \u003cb\u003eKaiserschlacht\u003c\/b\u003e, 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 \u003cb\u003e21st and 23rd March 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, Sergeant Fraser was reported \u003cb\u003emissing in France\u003c\/b\u003e, later confirmed to have been wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans. Records note:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e“\u003cb\u003eSgt. No. 266144 “C” Coy Seaf. Highrs. Missing 21–23.3.18 France\u003c\/b\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSubsequent reports established that Fraser had been admitted to \u003cb\u003eCambrai Military Hospital\u003c\/b\u003e suffering from severe wounds received in action. Tragically, he \u003cb\u003edied of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on 27 March 1918\u003c\/b\u003e. A later annotation on his casualty record confirms:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e“\u003cb\u003eSgt. A.E. Fraser 266144 Seaforths died 27.3.18 from head wounds. Buried at Cambrai Military Cemetery.\u003c\/b\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe was buried at \u003cb\u003eCambrai East Military Cemetery\u003c\/b\u003e, his grave recorded as \u003cb\u003eVI.B.65\u003c\/b\u003e. His sacrifice was commemorated locally upon the \u003cb\u003eElgin War Memorial\u003c\/b\u003e. Contemporary references also note that his mother had resided in Elgin for approximately twenty-eight years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54435457565018,"sku":null,"price":695.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260518_093520.png?v=1784207518","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/6th-seaforth-highlanders-ww1-military-medal-group-dow-as-pow-cambrai-1918-elgin","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}