CWGC Misc List - All did useful work in WW2?

Found some interesting organisations on the Miscellaneous Deaths. I downloaded the 1,607 entries and realised that there were many people in the background you don't often think about.

This one caught my eye initially and thought I would post a few of the organisations and see if members are familiar with any of these and what they actually did. Some like Police and Correspondents are straight forward - Some are not!

This person was awarded a GC and MC and Bar. Anybody know anything about him?

FRASER JOHN ALEXANDER J A
47
G C, M C and Bar
29/10/1943
Volunteer British Army Aid Group China, (including Hong Kong)
STANLEY MILITARY CEMETERY 1. C. Coll. grave 1-11.
HUSBAND OF K. E. FRASER, OF SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON.


Cheers

Geoff

 

He served as a machine gun officer and won the Military Cross (MC) in 1916. The MC was London Gazette on 20 October 1916, and the citation read:[5]


Temp. 2nd Lt. John Alexander Fraser, R. Sc. Fus.
For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When the enemy was working round the position, he took his machine-guns up to a position in the open in a shell-hole. Here he remained for four hours, and materially assisted, first in checking, and then in stopping the enemy's attack.





FRASER, John Alexander Asst.Attorney General Colonial Service, Hong Kong Fortitude as PoW 29-Oct-46 GC



http://www.marionhebblethwaite.co.uk/gcindex.htm



John Fraser was Asst Attorney General at Hong Kong in 1941 - captured by the Japanese, interned at Stanley, and executed by firing squad, after prolonged torture 29/10/1943.Awarded The George Cross
His Military Cross and Bar were earned as a subaltern, serving with 105 Company, Machine Gun Corps (1916 and 1917)
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=177983






John Alexander Fraser
John Alexander Fraser was born in Edinburgh, Scotland during 1897. During the First World War he had served in The Royal Scots Fusiliers, and was awarded the Military Cross twice (MC and bar). He became an Assistant Attorney General (Colonial Service) in Hong Kong, serving with the British Army Aid Group.
When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941 Mr. Fraser was interned in the Civil Internment Camp in Stanley. He immediately started to organise escape plans and a clandestine wireless service for his fellow prisoners. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged torture by the Japanese to make him disclose the names of those who were working with him. His fortitude was such that it was even committed upon by the Japanese guards. He steadfastly refused to utter one word, and, unable to break his spirit, the Japanese executed him on 29 October 1943.
Mr. Fraser is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, reference 1.C.Coll. grave 1-11.
The award of the George Cross to Mr. Fraser was published in the London Gazette on 25 October 1946:
John Alexander FRASER (deceased), lately Assistant Attorney-General, Hong Kong.
Fraser was interned by the Japanese in the Civilian Internment Camp, Stanley, and immediately organised escape plans and clandestine wireless service. He was fully aware of the risks that he ran but engaged continuously in, most dangerous activities and was successful, not only in receiving news from outside, but also in getting important information out of the Camp. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged and severe torture by the Japanese who were determined to obtain information from him and to make him implicate the others who were working with him. Under this treatment he steadfastly refused to utter one word that could help the Japanese investigations or bring punishment to others. His fortitude under the most severe torture was such that it was commented upon by the Japaneseprison guards. Unable to break his spirit the Japanese finally executed him. His devotion to duty, outstanding courage and endurance were the source of very real inspiration to others and there can be no doubt the lives of those whom the Japanese were trying to implicate were saved by his magnificent conduct.
http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/jap_pows.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alexander_Fraser_(GC)

 

FRASER, JOHN ALEXANDER
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Volunteer
Regiment/Service: British Army Aid Group
Age: 47
Date of Death: 29/10/1943
Awards: G C, M C and Bar
Additional information: Husband of K. E. Fraser, of South Kensington, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. C. Coll. grave 1-11.
Cemetery: STANLEY MILITARY CEMETERY, HONG KONG

Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of October 25th, 1946:- John Alexander Fraser was interned by the Japanese in the Civilian Internment Camp at Stanley. Fully aware of the risks that he ran he engaged continuously in most dangerous activities. He organised escape plans and a clandestine wireless service and succeeded not only in obtaining news from outside but also in getting important information out of the camp. Subjected by the Japanese to prolonged and most severe torture he steadfastly refused to give any information, and was finally executed. His fortitude was such that it was commented upon by the prison guards, and was a very real source of inspiration to others. His magnificent conduct undoubtedly saved the lives of those others whom the Japanese sought to implicate.




http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic4246.html

 

Listed below with the number of deaths per "Regiment". Let me know if you have an interest in any area and I will paste them for you.

Air Training Corps - 58
Army Cadet Force - 2

Army Scripture Readers and Soldiers and Airmen's Christian Association. - 1
Australian Coastguard - 2
Australian Comforts Fund - 1
Australian Naval Dockyard Police - 15
Australian Red Cross Society - 3
Australian Voluntary Aid Detachment - 1
Australian War Correspondent - 7
Australian Young Men's Christian Association - 3

Bengal Civil Pioneer Force - 120
British Army Aid Group - 56
British Overseas Airways Corporation - 68
British Red Cross Society - 1
British Supply Mission - 3
Brunei State Police - 3

Canadian Legion - 1
Canadian War Correspondent - 1
Central Provinces and Berar Civil Pioneer Force (India and Myanmar) - 17
Chartered Society Physiotherapy (Italy) - 2
Church Army (Egypt and Syria) - 2
Civilian - (Including The Man that Never Was) - 4
Commonwealth Salvage Board (PNG) - 1
Control Commission (B.E.) Germany (Some Frontier Control Force) - 93

Entertainments National Serevice Association - 7

Federated Malay States Police - 139

Gibraltar Security Police - 4

Hibbert Houses Welfare Group - 1
Hong Kong Police Force - 140

Indian Red Cross Society - 1

Kedah Special Police - 1
Kenya Police - 3

Lighthouse and Pilotage Authorities - 112

Madras Civil Pioneer Police - 26
Malmesbury Boys Hig School (Cadet) - 1
Methodist Missionary Society - 1

New Guinea Police Force - 18
New Zealand Civilian - 1

Orissa Civil Pioneer Force - 10

Palestine Police Force - 194
Punjab Civil Police Force - 10

Royal Papuan Constabulary - 40

Salvation Army - 4
Sarawak Constabulary - 5
Somalia Gendarmerie - 209
Somaliland Tribal Police - 20
South African Police - 64
St John's Ambulance Brigade - b1
Straits Settlement Police Force - 57

Tanganyika Police Force - 7
Tripolitania Civil Police Force - 2

United Provinces Civil Pioneer Force - 9

Voluntary Aid Detachment - 31

War Correspondent - 20

Young Men's Christian Association - 4

Young Women's Christian Association - 1

 

FRASER, John Alexander Asst.Attorney General Colonial Service, Hong Kong Fortitude as PoW 29-Oct-46 GC



http://www.marionhebblethwaite.co.uk/gcindex.htm



John Fraser was Asst Attorney General at Hong Kong in 1941 - captured by the Japanese, interned at Stanley, and executed by firing squad, after prolonged torture 29/10/1943.Awarded The George Cross
His Military Cross and Bar were earned as a subaltern, serving with 105 Company, Machine Gun Corps (1916 and 1917)
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=177983






John Alexander Fraser
John Alexander Fraser was born in Edinburgh, Scotland during 1897. During the First World War he had served in The Royal Scots Fusiliers, and was awarded the Military Cross twice (MC and bar). He became an Assistant Attorney General (Colonial Service) in Hong Kong, serving with the British Army Aid Group.
When the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941 Mr. Fraser was interned in the Civil Internment Camp in Stanley. He immediately started to organise escape plans and a clandestine wireless service for his fellow prisoners. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged torture by the Japanese to make him disclose the names of those who were working with him. His fortitude was such that it was even committed upon by the Japanese guards. He steadfastly refused to utter one word, and, unable to break his spirit, the Japanese executed him on 29 October 1943.
Mr. Fraser is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, reference 1.C.Coll. grave 1-11.
The award of the George Cross to Mr. Fraser was published in the London Gazette on 25 October 1946:
John Alexander FRASER (deceased), lately Assistant Attorney-General, Hong Kong.
Fraser was interned by the Japanese in the Civilian Internment Camp, Stanley, and immediately organised escape plans and clandestine wireless service. He was fully aware of the risks that he ran but engaged continuously in, most dangerous activities and was successful, not only in receiving news from outside, but also in getting important information out of the Camp. Eventually he was arrested and subjected to prolonged and severe torture by the Japanese who were determined to obtain information from him and to make him implicate the others who were working with him. Under this treatment he steadfastly refused to utter one word that could help the Japanese investigations or bring punishment to others. His fortitude under the most severe torture was such that it was commented upon by the Japaneseprison guards. Unable to break his spirit the Japanese finally executed him. His devotion to duty, outstanding courage and endurance were the source of very real inspiration to others and there can be no doubt the lives of those whom the Japanese were trying to implicate were saved by his magnificent conduct.
http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/jap_pows.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alexander_Fraser_(GC)



Thanks Clive,

A very brave man it seems.

Cheers

Geoff

 

One of course that stands out is "the man who never was"! Glyndwr Michael. This is the wording on the database.

GLYNDWR MICHAEL
34
24/01/1943
Civilian
Spain '
HUELVA ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY

MR MICHAEL POSTHUMOUSLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR UNDER THE ASSUMED RANK AND NAME OF MAJOR WILLIAM MARTIN, ROYAL MARINES, DATE OF DEATH GIVEN AS 24TH APRIL 1943. THESE DETAILS ARE RECORDED ON THE ORIGINAL LEDGER WHICH MARKS THE GRAVE.

HISTORY KNOWS HIM AS "THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS".