Charles 'Pop' Fraser

Who was Charles 'Pop' Fraser?

Lieutenant-General Charles Alan 'Pop' Fraser SSA SM was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army as a part-time Active Citizen Force soldier in 1934 and became a full-time Permanent Force member in 1946. He served in World War II.

During World War II, the Cape Field Artillery was amalgamated with the 6th Field Regiment, South African Artillery, in September 1943. On 1 October 1943 became 1/6 Field Regiment. Fraser, as a lieutenant-colonel assumed command of this regiment on 21 October 1944 when Lt-Col Kay, officer commanding, died of wounds. Fraser was in turn succeeded by Lt-Col IB Whyte.

He served as Chief of the Army from 1966 to 1967, and as General Officer Commanding Joint Combat Forces, co-ordinating Army and Air Force operations and training, from 1967 to 1973. As GOCJCF, he was the third-highest-ranking officer in the South African Defence Force's Supreme Command.