Finlay David Fraser

Rank:

Captain

Unit at enlistment:

36th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

August 12th, 1916

Cemetery:

Wimereux Communal Cemetery - Pas de Calais, France - III.J.I.

Commemorated at:

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, I.O.O.F. Memorial Tablet and Obelisk Harmony Lodge, Freemason Brant Lodge No. 45, B.C.I. High School Memorial Plaque

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

45 Charlotte Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

45 Charlotte Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Druggist

Employer:

Ward Simpson

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX July 12, 1916

Captain Finlay David Fraser is Now Improving – Name of Local Officer of 38th Battalion in Casualty List

Capt. Finlay David Fraser, 45 Charlotte Street, Brantford was recently taken ill with acute appendicitis. He was removed to a hospital and operated on, and according to a cable received here this was entirely successful. He is now improving.

In January, 1915 he received his appointment as lieutenant and was in charge of the 38th draft to the third contingent. On April 5 he received his captaincy. He was a member of the Dufferin Rifles, and in pre-war times was employed at Ward Simpson’s.

BX July 31, 1916

Seriously Ill

Captain Finlay David Fraser, Brantford is reported in this morning’s casualty list as being seriously ill. Three weeks ago Capt. Fraser was operated on and according to word received this morning from a nurse there is no improvement in his condition.

BX August 12, 1916

Condition Still Critical

Captain Finlay David Fraser, 45 Charlotte Street, is still in a serious condition as a result of an acute attack of appendicitis which he suffered five weeks ago and has undergone another operation. The following cablegram was received by members of the family last night: “Second operation over, condition still critical.”

Following the first operation a cable received here stated that it was entirely successful and that he was improving. The cable received last night came as a great shock to the members of the family who were not aware that he had suffered a relapse. Capt. Fraser left here in charge of the 38th draft to the third contingent.

Circumstances of Casualty: Died (Appendicitis and Peritonitis) at No. 14 General Hospital, Boulogne.

BX August 15, 1916

Another Brantford Officer Has Paid the Supreme Price – Captain Finlay David Fraser Died After Operation – Capt. Fraser, Popular Officer, Has Given Up Life for Country After Two Operations for Appendicitis – In Trenches Two Days

Word was received in the city yesterday morning of the death in Boulogne, France, of Captain Finlay D. Fraser, who left Brantford in June 1915 in charge of the third contingent draft, joining at Hamilton the 36th Battalion under Colonel Ashton.

Captain Fraser was born in Brantford, but while he was an infant his family removed to Barrie, where they spent 11 years. On returning to Brantford, he attended the public schools and later the Collegiate Institute. After matriculation, he engaged with S. Tapscott & Co., where he remained four years before attending the School of Pharmacy, Toronto, from which he graduated with honors in 1910, and the same year took the degree of Phm. B. from the University of Toronto. He then took a position with Parke & Parke, Hamilton, but after one year returned to take a responsible position with S. Tapscott & Co., where he remained until the time of his enlistment.

Captain Fraser was early interested in military work, having been Captain of the Cadet Corps at the Collegiate Institute here, and a member of the Dufferin Rifles ever since collegiate days. He qualified as Captain in February, 1914, and was gazetted as captain in October 1914. He enlisted for overseas service in January, 1915. On June 30th he was transferred for service in France but was only two days in the trenches when he was taken ill with appendicitis and operated on at Casualty Clearing Station No. 10. Afterwards he was transferred to No. 14 General Hospital, Boulogne, where after a month’s serious illness, he had to undergo a second operation, but notwithstanding all that skillful and loving care could do, he passed peacefully away on Saturday evening, August 13th. During the last ten days his uncle, Mr. J. Innes Fraser, Edinburgh, was with him. It is also a source of comfort to know that during the four weeks in Boulogne, a Brantford friend, Miss Mildred Roberson, who is nursing in a Boulogne hospital, was able to visit him every day, and did everything possible, including sending frequent letters and cables to Mrs. R.I. Fraser.

Captain Fraser leaves to mourn his loss, his mother, Mrs. R.I. Fraser, 45 Charlotte Street, a sister, Miss Elsie Fraser, and a brother William at home. Mrs. J.E. Baker and the Misses Phair are aunts. His father, Mr. Robert I. Fraser, for many years a resident of this city, died ten years ago. Captain Fraser was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, a member of Brant Lodge A.F. & A.M, also of the Canadian Order of Foresters, Harmony Lodge I.O.O.F., and the Liberal Club, and was interested in everything pertaining to the public life of the city.

A memorial service will be held in St. Andrew’s Church, which Capt. Fraser formerly attended, by Rev. J.W. Gordon, next Sunday evening.

BX August 21, 1916

Tributes to Memory of Captain Finlay David Fraser – In St. Andrew’s Church Last Sunday Memorial Service for One of Brantford’s Hero Dead – 125th Arrival

“He gave all that he had not to buy but to keep the best in life.” In these words and in similar phrases Rev. J.W. Gordon last evening spoke in memory of Capt. Finlay D. Fraser, one of Brantford’s hero dead, who gave up his life while on active service against the barbarous Hun.

Leading up to the words of commendation, Mr. Gordon referred to the safe arrival of the 125th Battalion at Bramshott Camp – news, which he knew, brought joy to all. Most appropriate was the text chosen for the occasion, found in Matthew xiii. 46. “Who, when he had found a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

As we were entering on the third year of the war, Rev. Mr. Gordon made a few preliminary observations in this regard. There might, said the speaker, occur to us once in a while an uneasy feeling that we had a larger share in the beginning of this war than we would care to admit. But this was not so, and we should not be worried. No nation could look with unconcern upon the horrors perpetrated upon the innocent Belgians, horrors such as the murder of Edith Cavell, or a case even worse, that of Capt. Fryatt. The mind could scarcely conceive human beings guilty of such atrocities. These people had defied the laws of God and we should comfort ourselves by remembering that whatever the cost we had nothing to do with the beginning of it.

Many good things were brought out by this war – discipline, courage, and spirit almost unbelievable. It had been proven over and over again that mankind had not degenerated. Now we could see the beginning of the end. The military situation had been vastly improved and we were no longer defending but attacking.

We were beginning to learn what the things were that mattered most in this life. While there was a great deal to be said in favor of thrift and industry when we saw all the money that had been hoarded for years being poured out in a stream we were beginning to learn that the only thing we must have is freedom to worship God. In all these things, Capt. Fraser had a great part and for them he gave up his life. He found the best that could be bought and brought it home… Capt. Fraser was rich, perhaps not so very much so in the things of the world, although he had plenty, but rich in health, and pure vigorous Christianity, rich in friendship of companions, in self-control and in industry. He knew what the best was in the world and would have it. He found it – the Kingdom of Heaven – at his mother’s knee, and he was a good son and a good citizen. Few had more loyal friends than Capt. Fraser, all this because he sought the best in life and found it in the Kingdom of God. Finding it he gave all he had to keep it. He had a good home, a loving mother, a good business, his own health and life, but he willingly sacrificed them all on the altar of his country, for Christian civilization. All the things that make for purity and nobility he went to defend and secure. He went in the last instance to defend his own faith and gave all that he had to defend that which he had sought so early in life.

In conclusion, Mr. Gordon said that Capt. Fraser was a man of peace, yet he went fearlessly. All along he wanted to get into the trenches and do his part. He spent two days there and undoubtedly he died satisfied. He has a place in that city of which John speaks in Revelations, where His loved ones shall join Him, see His face and be satisfied.

BX December 24, 1915

A number of the Brantford officers at the front have sent Christmas messages to the citizens of Brantford through the medium of The Expositor.

The Expositor
Brantford, Canada

It is quite pardonable in military parlance to have pride in one’s own corps; it is almost a crime if one hasn’t. I look back to the old Dufferin Rifles with the greatest respect and esteem to the good work of the scores of former officers of that battalion, and to the splendid stamp of men recruited there from. It is all being reflected day in and day out in many different spheres of action in this most serious business of war.

Finlay David Fraser

BX February 1, 1915

Patriotic Service – St. Andrew’s Congregation Said Farewell and Made Presentations to Four of its Members

Twelve members or adherents of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church have thus far volunteered for active service in the present war and in recognition of the approaching departure of four of these with the third contingent, special service of a patriotic character were conducted on Sunday evening by the pastor, Rev. J.W. Gordon. The church was filled to capacity, despite the inclement weather, and those who were in attendance were amply repaid by the inspiring service.

Captain Finlay D. Fraser who in command of the Dufferin Rifles’ company now being recruited for active service, and Privates A.G. Austin, Horace Underwood and Adam Young are the volunteers from St. Andrew’s Church, who will leave with the third contingent, and who were honored by the fellow members of their church last evening, each receiving through the pastor, Rev. Mr. Gordon the best wishes of the congregation for Godspeed and a safe return, and as a more tangible expression of their good wishes, a handsome silver wrist watch.

An appropriate sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Gordon, in which he emphasized his conviction that the cause of the Allies was righteous. Britain was not making war on poor, down spirited Austria-Hungary, or on the bankrupt and misdirected Turk, nor even on the German people themselves. It was to crush Prussian militarism that so much was being and would be sacrificed. A war, however, continued the speaker, became a holy war when militarism and autocracy, as opposed to democracy, were to be settled by its issue. To accomplish this end, Britain’s troops must be trained and equipped efficiently, and Mr. Gordon believed that Kitchener would leave no stone unturned to accomplish the purpose of this great catastrophe and bring to a successful termination this greatest of world wars. Members of his congregation were shortly to leave to fight for a moral and righteous cause, and in the name of God, as a Christian and pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, he invoked the blessing of the Almighty God that their efforts might be crowned with glory and success.

During the service, Miss Estelle Carey, of Hamilton, delighted the audience with two vocal selections by Dudley Smith. “I Will Lay Me Down in Peace” and “Fear Ye Not, O Israel.”

BX March 1, 1915

Presentation for Lieut. Fraser – Members of Young Liberals Club Gave Him a Steamer Trunk on Saturday

Lieutenant Finlay D. Fraser, who is in command of the overseas contingent now training in Brantford was made the recipient on Saturday evening last of a presentation from the Brantford Young Liberals’ club of which he was the vice-president. The presentation took place in the club rooms when most of the officers of the association and many of the representative men of the Liberal party were present. The president, Bert Henderson, voiced the sentiments of those present when he stated that Mr. Fraser had been a most valuable member of the Liberal club and a man who was well liked by everyone who knew him. That he would make a most capable officer there was no doubt, and in his life at the front he would be followed by the very best wishes of every member of the club. Mr. McIntyre, the secretary, then brought from under cover a handsome steamer trunk, which was presented to Mr. Fraser, and which the president stated was filled with the kind regards and good wishes of everyone who had been associated with Mr. Fraser during the past few years.

Lieut. Fraser stated that though he was now quite out of politics, it was a real pleasure to be among his old friends, but he scarcely felt able to thank them for their great kindness and the handsome presentation as an expression of their good-will. He considered it was a privilege to be able to volunteer for service for his King and Country and he knew full well that should occasion demand every member of the Liberal club would just as gladly offer himself when his turn came. Short addresses, all very eulogistic of Mr. Fraser, who was declared one of the best fellows that club had, were made by Joseph Ham, M.L.A., John Muir, A.M. Harley and others.