Major William Fraser MC
World War Two Gordon Highlander & SAS Original
by Anthony C Heaford --- @mancunianquiet on twitter --- Updated 8 May 2025 (new Operational Report images added)
William Fraser (1917-75) was a highly experienced, successful and decorated World War Two veteran, a Special Air Service Original who has been accurately described as the SAS’s forgotten hero. Despite being fascinated by all things military since I was a child (1970s), I only became aware of Bill Fraser in 2014 after reading Born of the Desert: with the SAS in North Africa (1945) by SAS Medical Officer Doctor Malcolm James Pleydell MC. He served with the SAS during their North African desert campaign in 1942/43 and gives a good account of Fraser, placing him in the highest echelons and reminding us of his unique character:
“You felt you had to get to know these chaps: Stirling, Mayne, Jellicoe, and Bill Fraser with his MC ribbon and tartan kilt, who looked such a good fellow, and always had his dachshund “Withers” (decked up in a naval coatee) following him in a doggy manner, with deep and very soulful eyes.”
More recently Bill Fraser has been remembered and given his due credit by SAS veteran, film director and author Tom Petch in his 2022 book Speed, Aggression, Surprise. I consider it the definitive history of the SAS’s origins in WW2’s North African theatre of operations. Petch describes Fraser thus:
"The real story of the SAS’s origins, told here, introduces two characters, Dudley Clarke and William Fraser, who have bit parts in the traditional narrative: Clarke was the mastermind of those ideas, Fraser their most successful operator. Without them there would never have been an SAS.”
Below are some documents and records of Bill Fraser’s service that I’ve collated since 2014, with immense help and encouragement from Alan Orton, son of WW2 SAS member John Orton.
1936 to 1940, Scotland & France: Following in his father & grandfather's footsteps, Fraser enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders. He returned from deployment with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 29 Dec 1939 to attend officer cadet training in Dunbar. Fraser was commission 2nd Lieutenant on 25 May 1940 and volunteered for the newly formed 11 (Scottish) Commandos in June.
Major William Fraser, Gordon Highlander and L Detachment SAS
June 1941, Syria: Lieutenant Fraser's Battle of Litani River after-action report 1/3
June 1941, Syria: Lt. Fraser's Battle of Litani River after-action report 2/3
June 1941, Syria: Lt. Fraser's Battle of Litani River after-action report map 3/3
August 1941, Egypt: SAS L Detachment Nominal Roll notes a promotion to Major for Fraser, Commanding Officer
of A Group, No.1 Section, No.1 Troop.
Oct / Nov 1941, Libya: Fraser was injured during parachute training & assigned to the LRDG collection party for the first SAS parachute mission, Operation Squatter. Photo shows Fraser with the survivors of that mission.
Dec 1941, Medal Citation: Fraser’s Military Cross citation for the Dec 1941 Jedabya airfield raid near Agadabia, Libya (quoted right). No SAS losses but Cpl Laurence Ashby & Pvt Reginald Riggs of the East Kent Regiment (attached to the LRDG) were killed by 'friendly fire' on the return journey when their convoy, still behind enemy lines, was attacked by the RAF.
Dec 1941, Fraser's Medal Citation (Military Cross):
“On the night 21st 22nd Dec 1941 this officer carried out a successful operation on the aerodrome EAST of AGEDABIA. He led his party of 4 men through enemy positions, located and fixed observation during the day of the 21st, and succeeded in reaching the aerodrome without detection. He destroyed 37 aircraft, a bomb dump and fuel supplies and withdrew this party without loss, through enemy patrols attempting to intercept him.”
Recommended by David Stirling.
19-23 December 1941 (pages 1 & 2): Fraser's report on Agadabia airfield raid: 37-aircraft destroyed & no SAS loses. Two East Kent Regiment soldiers attached to the LRDG were killed by RAF friendly-fire on return journey, Laurence Ashby & Reginald Riggs.
25 Dec 1941- 11 Jan 1942 (pages 3 & 4): Fraser's report for Arae Philenorum (Marble Arch): Stranded 200-miles behind enemy lines after an aborted airfield raid & a missed connection with the LRDG, Fraser led his men on an arduous desert march to safety.
March > Sept 1942, Libya: On operations, airfield raids, etc.
July 1943, Sicily: Part of Operation Huskey, the SAS performed two raiding parties to neutralise coastal gun batterys.
Sept/Oct 1943 Italy: Fraser was part of the landings at Bagnara, then was WIA at the battle of Termoli. An enemy mortar bomb killed 17 SAS troops who were in the back of a truck that Fraser was standing besides.
25 Dec 1943, Libya: Fraser & the SAS departed the Mediterranean theatre victorious, returning home for a month's leave.
Feb > May 1944, Britain: Training, D-Day plans & parachute training in Manchester.
June > Sept 1944, France: SAS jeeps parachuted behind enemy lines & used during Operation Houndsworth.
Nov 1944, France & Germany: Evolving SAS jeeps, now with bullet proof glass shields.
5 June > 8 Sept 1944, France: An outstandingly detailed report on Operation Houndsworth, which was commanded by Major Fraser. Three months behind enemy lines in the eastern Morvan Mountain forests, harassing German forces, radioing in airstrikes & air drops to supply themselves & the French resistance.
Medal Citation: Fraser's 2nd Military Cross, for Operation Houndsworth. The French awarded Fraser their Croix de Guerre with Palm. Fraser gave the SAS flag to the people of Duns-la-Places, a town targeted with murderous German reprisals but who never gave away their SAS allies' location.
27 March 1945, Germany: A report detailing Major Fraser's action two days after crossing the Rhine into Germany on the SAS Operation Archway. Using twelve jeeps to flank a determined German defensive position that had held-up the allied advance, Fraser led his men to victory but was WIA, shot in the hand. He celebrated VE Day with 1 SAS in Belgium.
11 (Scottish) Commandos, No.8 troop. Fraser was B section commander.
Bill Fraser, L Detachment's Forgotten Hero by Alan Orton. Image courtesy of Alan.
Bill Fraser, parachute wings on his chest, raising a glass to the camera during Op Houndsworth. Photo courtesy of Alan Orton.
LRDG /SAS desert photo (Fraser in center foreground with bedoin head-dress on).
- Rest-in-Peace Bill, you are Remembered -