Fraser, John Alexander

Date of birth:: February 12th, 1896 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Date of death:: October 29th, 1943 (Scotland)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Stanley (Hong Kong)
Nationality:: British

Biography

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Temporary Second-Lieutenant
Unit:: 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 9th Brigade, 3rd Division, British Army
Awarded on:: October 20th, 1916

"For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When the enemy was working round the position, he took his machine-guns up to a position in the open in a shell-hole. Here he remained for four hours, and materially assisted, first in checking, and then in stopping the enemy's attack."

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: Machine Gun Corps, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:: December 17th, 1917

Second MC received as bar

George Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Assistant Attorney General
Unit:: BAAG, Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Imperial General Staff, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: October 29th, 1946

Citation:
"Fraser was interned by the Japanese in the Civilian Internment Camp, Stanley, and immediately organized escape plans and a clandestine wireless service. He was fully aware of the risks that he ran but engaged continuously in, most dangerous activities and was successful, not only in receiving news from outside, but also in getting important information out of the Camp. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged and severe torture by the Japanese who were determined to obtain information from him and to make him implicate the others who were working with him. Under this treatment he steadfastly refused to utter one word that could help the Japanese investigations or bring punishment to others. His fortitude under the most severe torture was such that it was commented upon by the Japanese prison guards. Unable to break his spirit the Japanese finally executed him.

His devotion to duty, outstanding courage and endurance were the source of very real inspiration to others and there can be no doubt the lives of those whom the Japanese were trying to implicate were saved by his magnificent conduct."