Charles 'Pop' Fraser Facts for Kids

Lieutenant-General Charles Alan 'Pop' Fraser (6 April 1915 – 18 December 1994) was a very important military leader in South Africa. He joined the South African Army in 1934 as a part-time soldier. Later, in 1946, he became a full-time member of the army. He bravely served his country during World War II.

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant General Charles Alan Fraser SSA SM

Nickname(s)	Pop, Alan
Born	(1915-04-06)6 April 1915 Mooi River
Died	18 December 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 79) Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa
Service/branch	South African Army
Years of service	1934–1973
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Chief of the Army
Wars	World War II
Awards
Spouse(s)	Nancy Frances Margaret Ford (m. 1939; died 1986)
Other work	South African Ambassador to Iran

A Life of Service
Awards and Decorations
See also

A Life of Service

Early Military Days

Charles Fraser started his military journey in 1934. He was part of the Active Citizen Force, which meant he served part-time. This was a way for young people to train and be ready to defend their country if needed. After some years, he decided to make the army his full-time career.

World War II Hero

During World War II, Charles Fraser played an important role. He was a captain and went to a special training course in Palestine. This course taught him how to be a good leader and plan military actions.

Leading Soldiers

Later in the war, Charles Fraser became a lieutenant-colonel. This is a high rank, meaning he was in charge of many soldiers. In 1944, he took command of a group of soldiers called the 1/6 Field Regiment. He led them after their previous commander was injured.

Top Commander Roles

After World War II, Charles Fraser continued to rise through the ranks. From 1966 to 1967, he was the Chief of the Army. This meant he was the top leader of the entire South African Army.

From 1967 to 1973, he held an even bigger role. He was the General Officer Commanding Joint Combat Forces. In this job, he helped the Army and the Air Force work together. He made sure they trained well and planned operations as a team. This was a very important position, as he was one of the highest-ranking officers in the country's defence force.

After his military career, Charles Fraser also served as South Africa's Ambassador to Iran. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country, helping to build good relationships.