Photograph and Uniform Details.
Lieutenant General Sir Charles Craufurd Fraser, VC, KCB shows the following dates of rank, campaign service, and army appointments related to his 43 years of service in the British Army:[1]
Sir Charles Craufurd Fraser, was born in 1829. He was the second son of Sir James John Fraser, 3rd Baronet FRASER of Leadclune and Morar, County Inverness, and Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Hussars, who served in the Peninsula Campaign and at the Battle of Waterloo.
Sir Charles Craufurd Fraser, served as Orderly Officer to Brigadier Colin Campbell at the affair at Munseata near Allahabad on the 5th of January 1858. Subsequently, he served with the 7th Hussars in the Indian Mutiny Campaigns from February to July 1858 and from December of 1858 to March of 1859. He was present at the affair of Meeangunge, the siege and capture of Lucknow, the affairs of Baree and Sirsee (horse wounded), the action of Nawabgunge (severely wounded while leading his squadron against Gazzie fanatics, MID in Sir Hope Grant's despatch for, "most conspicuous gallantry," Brevet of Major), and throughout the Trans-Gogra Campaign, including the affair near Churda, and the following pursuit, the taking of the Fort at Meejedia, the attack on Bankee and the pursuit to the river Raptee, the advance into Nepal, and the affair at Sitkaghat (MID, VC, Medal with Clasp for Lucknow).
Sir Charles Craufurd Fraser was awarded the Victoria Cross for an exceptionally gallant act of bravery and humanity on the 31st of December 1858. An officer (Captain Stisted) and some men of his regiment had pursued some mutineers into the river Raptee, Oude, on the borders of Nepal, and were in imminent danger of being drowned. Major Fraser, although at the time partially disabled from a wound received while charging with his squadron at the action at Nawabgunge on the 13th of June, at once volunteered at great personal risk, to jump in, and swim to their rescue. Major Fraser succeeded in saving the officer and men while all the time under a terrible musketry fire from mutineers on the opposite bank of the river.
In the Abyssinian Campaign of 1868, he was to serve as the Commandant of the Head Quarters, and in charge of outposts. he fought in the Battle of the Arogie Ravine where the Abyssinian army was single handily routed by the 4th Foot. He also participated in the Capture of Magdala (MID, "for unceasing vigilance"; CB, and Medal).
Sir Charles held a number of important regimental and staff positions during his career of 43 years in the Army (see list above). He retired from the army on the 1st of January 1890.