Fraser, Alexander John, M.C (20 August 1892 - 9 July 1965)
Date 2008/2/22 13:44:07 | Topic: Australian
|  ALEXANDER JOHN FRASER, M.C, was born on 20 August 1892 at Fairfield, Melbourne, the son of Simon Fraser and Jane McLennan. From the age of 2 he lived at Kyneton, Victoria where he received his primary education before studying Agricultural Science at Ballarat, Victoria.
During his late teens and early twenties he worked in Dairying at Leongatha, South Gippsland, Vic, where he gained much valuable practical experience. He was of robust build and excelled at sport, particularly country football, playing Australian Rules football for the Melbourne club prior to enlistment in WW1. Along with 50 other boys from Kyneton he enlisted on 12 July 1915 embarking from Melbourne on 27 May 1916 on the Ascanius with the 10th Machine Gun Company, reaching the Western Front during the Somme offensive. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 8 August 1916. After the battle of Messenes on 7 June 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross for bravery and invalided home early in 1918. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of two machine guns, the crews of which were suffering heavy casualties. He rushed forward alone with a gun to the hedge from which most of the hostile fire was being directed. Although seriously wounded, on reaching his objective he opened fire upon the enemy, which he kept up for over fifteen minutes, thereby considerably reducing the hostile fire which was directed upon our advancing troops. Throughout the operation he displayed splendid determination and coolness.
In 1919 he was back with the Dairying Industry, first at Terang in Victoria’s western district, then Korumburra, South Gippsland, to the Gippsland and Northern Co-operative Co. Ltd., Melbourne, and finally as General Manager of the Great Southern Co-operative Co. Ltd. at Foster, South Gippsland.
In 1937 he became chairman of the Transport Regulation Board and during WW2 chairman of the Liquid Fuel Control Board, which was responsible for the distribution of petrol rationing tickets and permits to purchase motor cars, a position he held without payment as his contribution to the war effort.
In 1950 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and he looked after his constituents with zeal, thoughtfulness and generosity. He was an efficient administrator and a skilful negotiator and outside parliament he chaired several local authorities and was an elder of the Ewing Memorial Church, East Malvern.
Alexander Fraser died on 9 July 1965 at Malvern and his many friends in Parliament spoke highly of him during the Parliamentary Debates on 14th September.
Victorian member Joan Chambers is the proud daughter of Alexander Fraser and this picture of him was taken from a recent booklet by Weekly Times, Melbourne
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