Lieut. Lachlan Henry Veitch Fraser, 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Died 24th February 1915

[Corgarian]

Dear Forum

I'm researching the names of the men on Strathdon War Memorial in west Aberdeenshire. The above individual is named. Does anyone have the war diaries who can tell me what happened to him, or at least where the 4th Middlesex were on the day he died?

Thank you in advance.

Image copyright 2022-  Malvern College First Wold War Casualty List.

 

 

Edited 11 June , 2022 by Corgarian

[Acknown]

Welcome to the Forum. Here is the War Diary at the National Archives: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352078. You can download it for free if you sign in.

Acknown

Addition: And here is a link to the month of Feb 15 on Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/60779/images/43112_1422_0-00101?ssrc=&backlabel=Return. It's embedded within the 8th Brigade diary.

Addition 2: As the WD relates, the battalion was in the line in the area of KLEIN VIERSTRAAT, southwest of Ypres. A Company was in the right threequarters of M1, M5, L5 and L7 trenches. C Company was in M2, M3 and M4, and the left platoon area of M1. B Company was in the KV farm and D Company 'in the brigade headquarters' (?). If you read through the diary from the start, you may find out which company Lt Fraser was in. As you will also note, on 24 Feb: 'Nothing happened during the day', but 'Lt Fraser and three men ... were killed during the evening.' I suspect this was from artillery fire, MG fire or sniping.

I will attempt to find you a trench map later, but I suspect others will beat me to it!

Acknown

Edited 11 June , 2022 by Acknown

[Michelle Young]

link to duplicate post. Please keep replies on this thread here. Duplicate posts cause confusion and repetition of answers

 

[Acknown]

The 8th Brigade HQ WD for 24 Feb 15 states that Lt Fraser was killed in M3 Trench. This indicates that he was in C Company.

Acknown

Addition: The Brigade War Diary at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14052962 contains maps of the area which show the L Sector trenches at the time, but not the M Sector (from Ancestry):

Reading the WD, I cannot see any map references for the trenches. I suspect, but do not know, that M Sector was to the north of L Sector. Perhaps others can find a confirmatory map.

Acknown

Edited 11 June , 2022 by Acknown

[Acknown]

HQ 3 Division Commander Royal Artillery's WD: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4554541 reveals the location of M2 trench:

I imagine that M3 was immediately to its north.

Acknown

Edited 11 June , 2022 by Acknown