Lieutenant-General Charles Alan 'Pop' Fraser SSA SM (6 April 1915 – 18 December 1994)[1] was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army as a part-time Active Citizen Force soldier in 1934, and became a full-time Permanent Force member in 1946. He served in World War II.
Charles Alan Fraser | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Pop, Alan |
| Born | 6 April 1915[1] Mooi River, Natal, Union of South Africa[1][2] |
| Died | 18 December 1994 (aged 79)[1] Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa[1] |
| Allegiance |  Republic of South Africa |
| Service | South African Army |
| Years of service | 1934–1973 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Chief of the Army |
| Wars | World War II |
| Awards |          |
| Spouse(s) |
Nancy Frances Margaret Ford
(m. 1939; died 1986) |
| Other work | South African Ambassador to Iran |
With the rank of captain, he completed the 5th Senior Staff Duties War course at the British Middle East Staff College, Haifa in Palestine during the period from 8 September - 31 December 1941.
During World War II, the Cape Field Artillery was amalgamated with the 6th Field Regiment, South African Artillery, in September 1943. On 1 October 1943 became 1/6 Field Regiment. Fraser, as a lieutenant-colonel assumed command of this regiment on 21 October 1944 when Lt-Col Kay, officer commanding, died of wounds. Fraser was in turn succeeded by Lt-Col IB Whyte.[3]
He served as Chief of the Army from 1966 to 1967,[4] and as General Officer Commanding Joint Combat Forces, co-ordinating Army and Air Force operations and training, from 1967 to 1973. As GOCJCF, he was the third-highest-ranking officer in the South African Defence Force's Supreme Command.
Awards and decorations
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Star of South Africa (1952) (SSA)
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
Union Medal
1939–45 Star
Africa Star (8th Army Clasp)
Italy Star
Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
War Medal 1939–1945
Africa Service Medal (WWII)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Charles Alan Fraser".
- ^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
- ^ "Cape Field Artillery". Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Vol. 3. Nasou Limited. 1971. pp. 30–1. ISBN 978-0-625-00324-2.
- ^ Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 92.