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Australia

Source of biography: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fraser-6225

Major General Colin Fraser CB CBE was a career officer in the Australian Army, rising to the rank of Major General as Commander of the Australian Force Vietnam (COMAFV) during the Vietnam War. He served in the Second World War, Korean War and Vietnam War.

Colin Angus Ewen Fraser was born on 25th September 1918 at Nairobi, British East Africa (now Kenya). He was a son of of A E Fraser, Rutherglen, Adelaide.

Upon graduation from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory (RMC), he was commissioned into the Australian Army. He transferred to the 2nd Australian Imperial Force on 24th October 1939 for overseas service during the Second World War.[1] Fraser was an officer in the 2/12th Australian Infantry Battalion. The battalion sailed with the 18th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division on 5th May 1940. In September, whilst in Scotland, the brigade was transferred to the new 9th Australian Division. Through 1941, the brigade was part of the defence of Tobruk, Libya: the famous Rats of Tobruk.[2] Fraser's service at Tobruk was recognised through appointment to Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[3] The division returned to Australia in 1942, and prepared for jungle fighting in Papua and New Guinea; at Milne Bay.

Whilst in Australia, in October 1942, Colin Fraser's engagement to Dr Dorothy Champion, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs A E Champion, of Camberwell, Victoria, was announced in the midst of news of the frantic 'Kokoda Campaign' in Papua.[4]

Later the 2/12th deployed to the northern beaches of Papua, to Buna and Sanananda, and later to the Finisterre Mountains and then to Shaggy Ridge, in New Guinea. On 1st July 1945, the battalion landed at Balikpapan in Borneo for its final operation. Fraser finished the war with the field rank of Major.

Fraser did a 419-day tour of duty in the Korean War, from March 1955 to May 1956, as a Lieutenant Colonel with Headquarters 1st British Commonwealth Division.[5]

He was appointed Commander (Military Division) of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1968.[6] That year he also returned to RMC Duntroon as commandant. On 15th September 1969, Major General Fraser appeared on an episode of the Australian television series, This Day Tonight.[7]

Promoted to Major General, Fraser was appointed Commander of the Australian Force Vietnam (COMAFV) during the Vietnam War, serving in-country from March 1970 to March 1971.[8] He was further honoured by appointment to Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1971.[9]

He retired from the Australian Army before September 1978.[10]

He and Dorothy later retired to the northern rivers region of New South Wales, settling at Ocean Shores. He passed away, aged 83 years and four days, on 29th September 2001 at Ocean Shores.

Sources
↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: QX6073 Colin Angus Ewan Fraser; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/12th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: QX6073 Colin Angus Fraser MBE; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848-1957) Tue 13 Oct 1942 Page 6 ENGAGEMENTS; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs Korean War nominal roll: 111 Colin Angus Ewen Fraser; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Colin Angus Fraser CBE; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ IMDb:_Colin_Fraser; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs Vietnam War nominal roll: 111 Colin Angus Ewen Fraser; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: 111 Colin Angus Fraser CB; accessed 18 Jun 2018
↑ military compulsory retiring age of 60 years