Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique Second War M.B.E., Great War M.C., D.C.M., and M.M., and Second War B.E.M. group of ten awarded to Company Sergeant Major Charles Fraser, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, later Lieutenant, Glasgow City Police and Co-ordinating Officer for Civil Defence, Glasgow

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Military Cross, G.V.R.; Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (437 Sjt. C. Fraser. 2/A: & S: Hdrs.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (437 Sjt. C. Fraser. 2/A: & S: Hdrs.); British Empire Medal (Civil), G.VI.R. (Charles Fraser.); 1914 Star, with clasp (437 Pte. C. Fraser. 2/A. & S. Highrs); British War and Victory Medals (437 W.O. Cl. 2 C. Fraser. A. & S. Highrs.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1937, mounted for display nearly very fine or better (10) £10,000-£14,000

Matthew Taylor Collection, Christie’s, November 1990.

M.B.E. London Gazette 9 January 1946: ‘Charles Fraser Esq., M.C., D.C.M., M.M. B.E.M., Co-ordinating Officer for Civil Defence, Glasgow.’

M.C. London Gazette 30 July 1919: ‘Company Sergeant Major, D.C.M., M.M., 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.’
‘During the operations near Neuvilly on October 10th and 11th, 1918, he displayed conspicuous coolness and courage. During the attack on the morning of the 11th, all the platoon commanders in his company became casualties. He rallied the men of the company and led them on to their objective under heavy point-blank fire from field guns. He subsequently collected stragglers, reorganised them, and brought them into line with the rest of the company. While consolidation was being carried out he went round the line and set a fine example in assisting the section commanders in their work.’

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 September 1916: ‘Sergeant, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.’
‘For conspicuous gallantry. During a night advance two platoons of his company had got disconnected on a very broad front. Sergeant Fraser volunteered to search for them, found and reorganised them, and led them back through heavy fire.’
Annotated Gazette states: ‘Bazentin le Petit, 19-21st July 1916.’

M.M. London Gazette 28 July 1917: ‘Sergeant, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.’

B.E.M. London Gazette 2 January 1939: ‘Lieutenant, Glasgow City Police Force. For services in connection with Air Raid Precautions.’

Charles Fraser was born in Duntocher in 1892 and joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1909. He served in France with the 2nd Battalion from 10 August 1914, and was discharged in the rank of Company Sergeant Major in 1921. He was later that year appointed Probationary Constable, City of Glasgow Police, was posted to ‘A’ Division, and later transferred to ‘C’ Division as a Detective Constable. He was made Sergeant in 1930; Inspector in 1933; Chief Drill Instructor of the Glasgow Police Training School from 1933 to 1937; and Lieutenant in 1936. Fraser was appointed Air Raid Precaution Officer and Chief Air Raid Warden for the City of Glasgow in 1937; seconded to the Corporation of Glasgow as Assistant to the city’s A.R.P. Co-ordinating Officer in 1939; and resigned from the Glasgow City Police in 1942 to take up an appointment as Co-ordinating Officer for Civil Defence in the city.

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