No 4-Donald Albert Fraser
Donald Fraser, 1st son and third child of Alexander and Jane Fraser of “Hillside’ Bonshaw Q. property, born 13/11/1893 grew up on the family property, enlisted 10/1/1916 . Private D.A. Fraser, no 1646 “B” Co . Machine Gun Section, 56th Battalion-sailed on the 13/5/1916, killed in action on the Somme 3/2/1917
Don went off with Will Prior ( he lived on a neighbouring property) and others from Lagoon Flat and Will was with Don when, during the Battle of the Somme, he was killed. Will returned home and later married Elizabeth Fraser. They called their home in Auburn Sydney “Bullecourt” after the place in France where heavy fighting took place and for mate ship. Don is buried in the A.I.F. Burial Ground Flers France.
AIF Burial Ground is two kilometers north of the village of Flers, in the Department of the Somme. The cemetery was begun by Australian medical units, posted in the neighbouring caves, in November 1916-February 1917. These original graves are in Plot 1, Rows A and B. It was very greatly enlarged after the Armistice when almost 4000 Commonwealth and French graves were brought in from the battlefields. The great majority from the autumn of 1916, but 1 is from 1914 and others from the spring of 1917 and the spring and summer of 1918.
Donald Albert Fraser , born 3/11/1893 Lagoon Flats, died 3/2/1917 Somme France age 23 . Buried AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers France, Somme -Plot 111 Row B, Grave 12. Service no 1646-Enlisted 10/1/1916 Rank Private. Unit 36 Battalion 1st reinforcements, 56'Battalion, B Company, Machine Gunner. Embarked 13/5/1916 from Sydney, on board HMAT A72 'Beltana' Medals British War Medal on 22/4/1922, Victory Medal 11/4/1923, 1914/15 Star Remembered on Roll of Honour Panel No 162 From his Roll of Honour Circular, Town in Australia he was chiefly connected with (which his name ought to come on the Memorial: Texas Queensland. Next of Kin WW1: Mrs Jane Fraser Lagoon Flat Queensland. Family military connections : Brother Alexander Claude Fraser died Victoria Barracks Sydney 11/7/1915 Oath taken 10/1/1916 by Attesting Officer F H Jery Description of Donald Albert Fraser on Enrollment Height 5 feet 11 inches Weight 160 pounds Chest Measurements 33-36 inches Complexion Dark Eyes Dark brown Hair Dark brown Medical Examination at Inverell 15/1/1916. Information from the Australian Red Cross Society on Wounded and Missing in WW1 given by eye witness Sgt. J C Bisson 2788 56th Battalion -3rd Hospital Dartford, Kent England- ' I saw him dead at Le Transloy. He had been caught by a shell and very badly blown about. I buried him near the place of casualty and marked his grave with a cross bearing all his particulars. I knew him well, he was a Machine Gunner at time of casualty Taken by W. Orman at London 8th October 1917
Nelle's journey 