This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Fraser, Rowland played for Scotland Internationals: 4 : 1911 F- W- I- E- Rowland Fraser was born on 10 January 1890, Perth, son of J M Fraser Esq, of Invermay, Forgandenny; later the husband of Mary Dorothy Fraser, of Invermay, Forgandenny, Perthshire. Played as a Hooker/prop for: Merchiston School, Edinburgh University, Cambridge University (Pembroke College) (Blue 1908-1910). Captained Cambridge University XV 1910-1911. Remarks: Played for Cambridge University (9-11) v the 1908-1909 Wallabies. Perthshire County Cricket Club War service: Promoted from the Officer Training Corps as a Second Lieutenant from 15 August 1914, later Captain, 6th Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, 11th Brigade, 4th Division. He was killed in action on 1 July 1916 on the Somme, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France [Pier and Face 16 B and 16 C]. On 1 July, the 1st Rifle Brigade and the 1st East Lancashire attacked Ridge Redoubt, south of Serre. Some troops reached the enemy front line, but were unable to hold their position.
In Memory of Captain ROWLAND FRASER 6th Bn. attd. 1st Bn., Rifle Brigade who died age 26 on 01 July 1916 Son of J. M. Fraser Esq., of Invermay, Forgandenny; husband of Mary Dorothy Fraser, of Invermay, Forgandenny, Perthshire. Educated at Merchiston Castlel Edinburgh, and Cambridge University (Pembroke). Capt. Cambridge Rugby XV. 1910-11. Scottish International, 1912. Remembered with honour THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
THE STRATHEARN HERALD: 15.07.1916 PERTH OFFICER'S DEATH - CAPT. ROWLAND FRASER, INVERMAY It was with much regret that Perth people learned of the death in action of Captain Rowland Fraser, Rifle Brigade, third son of Mr John M. Fraser, of Invermay, Forteviot, head of the firm of Messrs Macdonald, Fraser & Co., stock salesmen, Perth. Only a few weeks ago he obtained a short leave from the front, and was married at Invermay on 20th June to Miss Mary Dorothy, second daughter of Mr T. H. Ross, Quirindi, New South Wales. Captain Fraser returned to France soon after, and fell in action on Sunday, the 2nd inst., exactly twelve days after his marriage. He had a distiguished record at school, college, and university. Born at Perth about 26 years ago, he attended the Academy, and afterwards went to Merchiston College, Edinburgh, and subsequently to Cambridge University. He was an M.A. of Cambridge University, and in civil life a member of the legal profession, and was in the offices of Messrs Guild & Guild, W.S., Edinburgh. He joined the Army shortly after the outbreak of war, and had been on active service for about eighteen months. Other two brothers are also serving with the Colours. In football and cricketing circles the deceased officer was well-known. He was at one time captain of the Merchiston Castle cricket eleven, and also played for the Grange and Perthshire. He was captain of the Cambridge Rugby team, and was a Scottish internationalist. His brother, Mr W. Lovat Fraser, is the captain of the Perthshire Cricket Club. Also commemorated; Forteviot Parish WW1 Roll of Honour; http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3423 Scottish Rugby Union Memorial; http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=454&highlight=rugby Pulpit at Forteviot Church; http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3416&highlight=rugby PERTHSHIRE ADVERTISER: 11.02.1920 FORTEVIOT WAR MEMORIALS UNVEILED Brigadier-General the Rev. Dr M’Clymont, convenor of the Chaplains Committee of the Church of Scotland, unveiled a series of memorials in Forteviot Parish Church to members of the congregation who fell in the recent war. A special tablet was erected to the memory of the Rev. James Kirk, who died of wounds, and who, prior to his appointment as chaplain of the 2nd Batt. Of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was parish minister at Dunbar, and for a period occupied a similar position at Forteviot. Mr and Mrs J. M. Fraser of Invermay, in remembrance of their youngest son, Captain Rowland Fraser, of the Rifle Brigade, who was killed on the Somme in 1916, gifted an oak pulpit, while the congregation and children of the Sunday School contributed towards a mural tablet containing a roll of honour. http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic3404.html
CAPT. ROWLAND FRASER (King's Royal Rifle Brigade) was born on January 10, 1890, and was killed on July 1 1916 He was in the Merchiston Eleven in 1905 and three following years, in 1908 being second both in batting and in bowling. Subsequently he played for the Grange C.C. and Perthshire. He obtained his Blue at Cambridge for Rugby football, and was a Scottish International. http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228033.html
Lieutenant (Temp. Captain) Rowland Fraser was killed with the 1st Rifle Brigade on the 1st July 1916. The attack of the 1st RB was just to the right of the Quadrilateral where they suffered heavily from machine gun fire from The Quadrilateral and Ridge Redoubt. The battalion took both its 1st and 2nd objectives but were gradually forced back into the Quadrilateral due to the divisions either side not obtaining their objectives. To the best of my recollection the 4th Division is about the only Division not to have a memorial on the Somme despite making its objectives and suffering heavily for doing so. His blues register says:- Born 1890. Educated at Merchiston Castle School and Pembroke College, Cambridge; now at Edinburgh University. Played in the Varsity Fifteen 1908, 1909, 1910 (Captain). International Football, Scotland v. England 1911, v. Ireland 1911, v. Wales 1911 and against France 1911. Address: Invermay, Forgandenny, Perthshire. Andy
