Bruce Austin Fraser, First Baron Fraser

Admiral of the Fleet Lord Bruce Austin Fraser, First Baron Fraser of North Cape, G.C.B., K.B.E., Royal Navy (5 February, 1888 – 12 February, 1981) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Born in Acton, Fraser gained four months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 March, 1908.

After passing the best examination in practical Gunnery when qualifying for Gunnery Lieutenant, Fraser was awarded the Commander Egerton Prize of 1911-12.

Great War

Fraser was appointed to the second class protected cruiser Minerva as her gunnery lieutenant for the Test Mobilisation. On 1 August, he was re-appointed in her.

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 March, 1916. He remained with Minerva until being sent back to England on 8 April, 1916. He first was appointed to Excellent, additional, and then on 15 June to Victory, to become gunnery officer in the new Revenge Class battleship Resolution upon her commissioning and being lent to Princess Royal for some short period prior to her Resolution becoming ready.

Interbellum

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1919.

Fraser remained in Resolution until 19 April, 1920, having become her executive officer on 5 November, 1919.

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1926.

He was appointed temporarily in command of the new light cruiser Leander on 25 November, 1932 to oversee her pre-commissioning trials. He was superseded by Robert Ross Turner on 21 December, 1932.

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 11 January, 1938. On 2 May, he was appointed to Warspite, additional, as Chief of Staff to Admiral Pound, vice Edward-Collins. He was superseded on 6 February, 1939.

World War II

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 8 May, 1940.

Fraser was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet in May of 1943. In this appointment on 26 December 1943, he commanded a surface force that destroyed the German battleship Scharnhorst at the Battle of the North Cape.

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 7 February, 1944.

Post-War

Fraser was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet on 7 February, 1948.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia
• "Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fraser of North Cape" (Obituaries). The Times. Friday, 13 February, 1981. Issue 60851, col F, pg. 16.
• Humble, Richard (1983). Fraser of North Cape. London: Routledge.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by St. Aubyn B. Wake	Fleet Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet 20 Dec, 1924	Succeeded by Arthur F. E. Palliser
Preceded by Patrick Macnamara	Captain of H.M.S. Effingham 6 Sep, 1929 – 8 Aug, 1932	Succeeded by Cecil B. Prickett
Preceded by Julian F. C. Patterson	Director of Naval Ordnance 12 Aug, 1933 – 20 Apr, 1936	Succeeded by William R. Slayter
Preceded by Henry C. Rawlings	Captain of H.M.S. Glorious 22 May, 1936 – 7 Dec, 1937	Succeeded by Arthur L. St. G. Lyster
Preceded by Sir Reginald G. H. Henderson	Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy 1 Mar, 1939 – 22 May, 1942	Succeeded by Sir William F. Wake-Walker
Preceded by Alban T. B. Curteis	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron 28 Jun, 1942	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Sir James F. Somerville as Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet	Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet Aug, 1944 – Jun, 1946	Succeeded by Sir Denis W. Boyd as Commander-in-Chief, Far Eastern Fleet
Preceded by Sir Geoffrey Layton	Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Station May, 1947 – Jul, 1948	Succeeded by Sir Algernon U. Willis
Preceded by Sir John H. D. Cunningham	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Sep, 1948 – Dec, 1951	Succeeded by Sir Rhoderick R. McGrigor