Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Scottish-born in Fifeshire, on the 15th August, 1909, Christopher’s hometown was known for being the home of Scottish monarchs. He was the son of Daniel and Mary Shoolbread Fraser, one of seven children including two sisters, Meg and Nell and five brothers Jim (who later served in the AIF as SX26871), John, Gordon and Charles (SX7260 in the 2/48th Battalion). Their father, Daniel, had also served in a Scottish Regiment in WWI, which probably also influenced three of his sons to later enlist for WWII. Christopher and his siblings were educated in Scotland before the family emigrated to South Australia.
A month after Chris’ 30th birthday, his 60-year-old mother Mary died on the 12th September ’39.. Soon after, with the outbreak of WWII younger brother Charles enlisting on the 29th June 1940, and within days 31 year old Christopher had followed suit, on the 3rd July. Despite the war, Chris and his siblings all continued to remember their mother. FRASER. —In loving memory of our dear mother, who passed away on the 12th of September. 1939. Sometimes we lose a friend. Ofttimes we make another: But there's no friend in all the world Can take the place of our dear mother. Ever remembered by Mary and Chris then ’41 FRASER. —In loving memory of our darling mother, who died on the I2th of September 1939. We will always cherish with love sincere Beautiful memories of you, mother dear. Until memories fade and life departs. You will live forever In our hearts. —Inserted by her loving sons, Gordon and Chris (on active service).
Both brothers were allocated to the 2/48th battalion. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
To add to the tragedy of losing his mother, more unwanted news reached Christopher that his 66-year-old father, Daniel had died on the 10th August ’42. He was buried with Chris’ mother in the West Terrace Cemetery. Added to that heartbreak, two months later 30-year-old Staff Sgt Charles Fraser was killed in action in an horrific explosion in Egypt on the 25th October, 1942.
John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes the carnage caused by the chance hit by an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines.
‘An ear shattering explosion dwarfed the sound of the guns into insignificance. Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Steve Fitzgerald who was bringing up the mortar truck, which was laden with bombs, was seventy or so yards behind the trucks when the first one went off. His vehicle rocked in the blast, and blinded by the flash, he was thrown clear out of it and onto the ground. Russ Lucas and Doug Richardson, who were manning a wireless set in a nearby trench, were temporarily stunned, but by gallant effort they got one man out of the trucks. He died in their arms. Parts of their wireless set were never found; the batteries were picked up two hundred yards away. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved. They were: Corporal R. Bryant, W.D. Cockshell, W.C. Quinn, J.J. Buckley, H.S. Searle, W.A. Craig, C. Fraser, C.H. Schulz, C.E. Dolling and F. Parkyn.’
Part of the report of Charles’ death back home in the Advertiser on the 23rd November was the added information that Chris and Jim were also serving in the Infantry.
Chris continued to remember his young brother, the talented football player, in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Monday 25 October 1943, FRASER - In loving memory of my dear brother. Charlie, killed in action. October 25, 1942. I know the years, be they many or few will be remembrance, dear Charlie. of you—inserted by Chris (A.I.F. ret.).
Advertiser Wednesday 25 October 1944, FRASER. —In loving memory of my dear brother Charlie, killed in action. El Alamein, Oct. 25. 1943. Thy purpose. Lord, I cannot see but all is well that is done by Thee. —Remembered always by Chris A.I.F., ret.
Advertiser Thursday 25 October 1951, FRASER.— In remembrance of my beloved brother Charles, killed in action, El Alamein, October 25 942. How could one so dearly loved ever be forgotten?— Ever remembered by Chris.
Tributes continued to be placed in succeeding years for his much-loved brother. ‘Always remembered.’
Chris survived the war and was discharged in June ’45.
Aged 76, Christopher died on the 23rd February 1985. He and his wife Kathleen are buried in the Angaston Cemetery.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

Scottish-born in Fifeshire, on the 15th August, 1909, Christopher’s hometown was known for being the home of Scottish monarchs. He was the son of Daniel and Mary Shoolbread Fraser, one of seven children including two sisters, Meg and Nell and five brothers Jim (who later served in the AIF as SX26871), John, Gordon and Charles (SX7260 in the 2/48th Battalion). Their father, Daniel, had also served in a Scottish Regiment in WWI, which probably also influenced three of his sons to later enlist for WWII. Christopher and his siblings were educated in Scotland before the family emigrated to South Australia.
A month after Chris’ 30th birthday, his 60-year-old mother Mary died on the 12th September ’39.. Soon after, with the outbreak of WWII younger brother Charles enlisting on the 29th June 1940, and within days 31 year old Christopher had followed suit, on the 3rd July. Despite the war, Chris and his siblings all continued to remember their mother. FRASER. —In loving memory of our dear mother, who passed away on the 12th of September. 1939. Sometimes we lose a friend. Ofttimes we make another: But there's no friend in all the world Can take the place of our dear mother. Ever remembered by Mary and Chris then ’41 FRASER. —In loving memory of our darling mother, who died on the I2th of September 1939. We will always cherish with love sincere Beautiful memories of you, mother dear. Until memories fade and life departs. You will live forever In our hearts. —Inserted by her loving sons, Gordon and Chris (on active service).
Both brothers were allocated to the 2/48th battalion. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
To add to the tragedy of losing his mother, more unwanted news reached Christopher that his 66-year-old father, Daniel had died on the 10th August ’42. He was buried with Chris’ mother in the West Terrace Cemetery. Added to that heartbreak, two months later 30-year-old Staff Sgt Charles Fraser was killed in action in an horrific explosion in Egypt on the 25th October, 1942.
John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes the carnage caused by the chance hit by an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines.
‘An ear shattering explosion dwarfed the sound of the guns into insignificance. Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Steve Fitzgerald who was bringing up the mortar truck, which was laden with bombs, was seventy or so yards behind the trucks when the first one went off. His vehicle rocked in the blast, and blinded by the flash, he was thrown clear out of it and onto the ground. Russ Lucas and Doug Richardson, who were manning a wireless set in a nearby trench, were temporarily stunned, but by gallant effort they got one man out of the trucks. He died in their arms. Parts of their wireless set were never found; the batteries were picked up two hundred yards away. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved. They were: Corporal R. Bryant, W.D. Cockshell, W.C. Quinn, J.J. Buckley, H.S. Searle, W.A. Craig, C. Fraser, C.H. Schulz, C.E. Dolling and F. Parkyn.’
Part of the report of Charles’ death back home in the Advertiser on the 23rd November was the added information that Chris and Jim were also serving in the Infantry.
Chris continued to remember his young brother, the talented football player, in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Monday 25 October 1943, FRASER - In loving memory of my dear brother. Charlie, killed in action. October 25, 1942. I know the years, be they many or few will be remembrance, dear Charlie. of you—inserted by Chris (A.I.F. ret.).
Advertiser Wednesday 25 October 1944, FRASER. —In loving memory of my dear brother Charlie, killed in action. El Alamein, Oct. 25. 1943. Thy purpose. Lord, I cannot see but all is well that is done by Thee. —Remembered always by Chris A.I.F., ret.
Advertiser Thursday 25 October 1951, FRASER.— In remembrance of my beloved brother Charles, killed in action, El Alamein, October 25 942. How could one so dearly loved ever be forgotten?— Ever remembered by Chris.
Tributes continued to be placed in succeeding years for his much-loved brother. ‘Always remembered.’
Chris survived the war and was discharged in June ’45.
Aged 76, Christopher died on the 23rd February 1985. He and his wife Kathleen are buried in the Angaston Cemetery.

Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.