Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (2/Lieut. M. P. Fraser. R.A.F.) minor edge nicks, good very fine £80-£100

Matthew Pollock Fraser was born in Glasgow in January 1889, and was educated at Edinburgh University. He was employed as a Tea Planter in Ceylon prior to the Great War. Fraser returned to the UK at the outbreak of the War, and was appointed a Cadet with the Royal Artillery. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in November 1917, carried out pilot training, and was posted for operational flying with 58 Squadron (F.E.2b’s and then Handley Page O/400’s) in August 1918. Fraser carried out bombing sorties with Second Lieutenant A. Spotswood as his observer, and Sergeant Mechanic T. H. Barron as his Air Gunner. Including the night of the 23/24 September 1918:

‘Approaching Froidment [Aerodrome], two E.A. were noticed on the tail on the right hand side, and were attacked. After about 80 rounds had been fired at them, the gun jambed. The machine was then swung round to face the E.A., but they had disappeared. After dropping bombs at St. Maur Aerodrome, 2 E.A. were sighted on the tail. Those machines kept up a continuous fire for about 12 miles from a range varying from 50 to 200 yards.’ (Combat Report refers).

Fraser was transferred to the Unemployed List in January 1919. After the War, Fraser’s address is recorded as 2 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. However, he returned to employment in Ceylon, and continued to work there for several decades - surviving being stabbed by a shopkeeper in April 1939. Fraser died at his home address of 7 Redcliffe Street, London, in August 1961.

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