Harold Livingstone Fraser (21 December 1890 – 1 November 1950) was an Australian aviator born in

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite. The Scottish- ...

, Queensland.

Military career

Fraser worked as a station overseer in central-western Queensland before enlisting at the age of 24 at Blackall for service in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Joining the

5th Light Horse Brigade The 5th Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that served during World War I. The brigade was initially formed as a part-time Australian Army Reserve, militia formation in the early 1900s ...

of the

First Australian Imperial Force The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main Expeditionary warfare, expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following United Kingdom of Great Bri ...

on 25 September 1915 and fighting in the Gallipoli Campaign, he eventually transferred to the

Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until ...

' No. 1 Squadron on 7 April 1917. He was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

for distinguished services in the field in connection with military operations culminating in the capture of

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

Civilian career

After his war service, Fraser returned to Queensland and engaged in raising and trading sheep. In 1931, he founded Rockhampton Aerial Services and carried passengers, newspapers and money between Brisbane and central Queensland by air.

Plane crash

On a return flight from Clermont on 19 July 1936, Fraser's DH50 VH-UFW lost its engine and propeller at 4000 feet (1220 m). The Morning Bulletin reported that, after a free-fall of 3000 feet (914 m), he 'manipulated the controls to stop the machine going into a spin' and by 'a series of falling-leaf manoeuvres . . . came down on a flat in a bit of open country'. He walked 15 miles (24 km) to Capella where the local publican was startled by his 'queer looking clothes' and 'bloody great silk scarf'. Having downed a stiff whisky, Fraser nonchalantly caught a train back to Rockhampton. Financial problems, exacerbated by the loss of his plane, forced the sale of Rockhampton Aerial Services and it was sold to

Airlines of Australia Airlines of Australia was an airline that serviced Australia, originally commencing as New England Airlines in 1931, until being absorbed by Australian National Airways in July 1942. New England Airways Airlines of Australia was originally incor ...

in 1936. Fraser once more turned to agriculture and bought Strathcona station in the Dingo district where he privately flew a De Havilland twin-engine aircraft. For a number of years he was associated with his brother Donald in successful gold-mining at Crocodile Creek. In 1946 Harold moved to Greystonlea cattle-station, Kingaroy.

Death

Harold Fraser died on 1 November 1950, after suffering severe burns in a house fire at Greystonlea cattle station Homestead. Fraser was trapped in his sleep in the blazing building and staggered through the flames to reach a side window. Fraser who owned Greystonlea cattle station, 35 miles west of Kingaroy, died in Kingaroy hospital 15 hours after the fire. Workmen in bunkhouses near the homestead were awakened at 1.30 am by Fraser's screams. The eight-roomed building was one mass of flames, shooting high into the air, they saw Fraser tumble from a side window. Fraser was survived by his wife who was on holiday in Brisbane at the time of the fire and two daughters.
Trove

References

External links