Major William Fraser MC

William 'Bill' Fraser (1917-75) was a highly experienced, successful and decorated World War Two veteran, a Special Air Service Original accurately described as the SAS’s forgotten hero. Despite being fascinated by all things military since I was a child I only became aware of Bill Fraser in 2014 after reading Born of the Desert: with the SAS in North Africa, written by an SAS Medical Officer in 1945. Doctor Malcolm James Pleydell MC served with the SAS during their North African desert campaign 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.”

SAS & LRDG - Fraser is front row center

More recently Bill has been remembered and given his due credit by the most qualified of commentators - SAS veteran Tom Petch in his 2022 book Speed, Aggression, Surprise. I consider it the definitive history of the SAS’s origins in North Africa. 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, intermingled with a War Diary I've created (.pdf version), are some original records from Bill's service that I collated with immense help and encouragement from Alan Orton, son of WW2 SAS member John Orton. Feel free to use any of my work to keep telling Bill Fraser's story.

August 1941, Egypt: The first SAS Roll Call for L Detachment notes a promotion to Major for Fraser, commander 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.

Fraser's First Military Cross Citation for a successful airfield raid behind enemy lines in Libya >>>
“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 Colonel David Stirling.

19-23 December 1941 (pages 1 & 2): Fraser's report on Agadabia airfield raid: 37-aircraft destroyed & no SAS losses. 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 and adventure to safety.

June > Sept 1944, France: SAS jeeps parachuted behind enemy lines & used on Operation Houndsworth.

Nov 1944, France & Germany: Evolving SAS jeeps, with added 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 commanding 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 SAS Operation Archway. Using twelve jeeps to flank a German defensive position that had held-up the allied advance, Fraser led his men to victory but was wounded, shot in the hand. He celebrated VE Day with 1 SAS in Belgium.