THE VICTORIA CROSS AND OTHER MEDALS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IAN FRASER HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.
1988


( select to enlarge )

Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Commander Ian Fraser,
Royal Naval Reserve ( HM Midget Submarine XE-3 )

  • Victoria Cross
  • Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC )
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Atlantic Star
  • Africa Star
  • Pacific Star
  • War Medal ( 1939-45)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ( 2002 )
  • Royal Naval Reserve Decoration ( RD ) + Long Service clasp
  • Officer, Legion of Merit ( USA )

The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Lieutenant Commander Ian Fraser, Royal Naval Reserve, HM Midget Submarine XE-3, have been acquired privately on behalf of the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection. The Ian Fraser VC group has gone on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.


For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 13 November 1945 ], Jahore Straits, Singapore, 31 July 1945, Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser, DSC, Royal Naval Reserve.

Lieutenant Fraser commanded His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 in a successful attack on a Japanese heavy cruiser of the Atago class at her moorings in Johore Strait, Singapore, on 31st July 1945.

During the long approach up the Singapore Straits XE-3 deliberately left the believed safe channel and entered mined waters to avoid suspected hydrophone posts. The target was aground, or nearly aground, both fore and aft, and only under the Midship portion was there just sufficient water for XE-3 to place herself under the cruiser. For forty minutes XE-3 pushed her way along the seabed until finally Lieutenant Fraser managed to force her right under the centre of the cruiser. Here he placed the limpets and dropped his main side charge. Great difficulty was experienced in extricating the craft after the attack had been completed, but finally XE-3 was clear, and commenced her long return journey out to sea.

The courage and determination of Lieutenant Fraser are beyond all praise. Any man not possessed of his relentless determination to achieve his object in full, regardless of all consequences, would have dropped his side charge alongside the target instead of persisting until he had forced his submarine right under the cruiser. The approach and withdrawal entailed a passage of 80 miles through water which had been mined by both the enemy and ourselves, past hydrophone positions, over loops and controlled minefields, and through an anti-submarine boom.

( Lieutenant Fraser's other crew member in the midget submarine was Leading Seaman James Magennis, Royal Navy, who was also awarded the Victoria Cross ).

Ian Fraser and James Magennis were invested with their Victoria Crosses by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on the 11th December 1945.


For the award of the Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC ).

[ London Gazette, 6 April 1943 ], 10th Submarine Squadron, Mediterranean, 1943, Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser, Royal Naval Reserve, HM Submarine "Sahib".

For bravery and skill in successful submarine patrols.

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 8 September 2009