Charles Ian Fraser facts for kids
Charles Ian Fraser of Reelig (1903 – 1963) was an important Scottish figure. He was a brave officer in the British Army. He was also a skilled historian and an expert in heraldry. Heraldry is the study of coats of arms and family symbols.
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Charles Fraser's Military Life
Charles Fraser was an officer in a special Scottish army unit. This unit was called the Lovat Scouts. He fought for his country during the Second World War. This was a very big war that lasted from 1939 to 1945.
Awards and Ranks
Fraser received several honors for his service. In 1942, he earned the Efficiency Decoration. This award recognized his long and good service in the army. He was also given the honorary rank of Major in 1951. Later, he became an honorary Colonel. This means he held a high rank, but it was mostly for his respected position.
Helping His Community
In 1944, Charles Fraser became a Deputy Lieutenant for Inverness-shire. This role meant he helped the main representative of the King or Queen in the area. He also led the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association of Inverness. This group supported local volunteer soldiers. For his great work, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962. This is a very special award from the Queen.
An Expert on Scottish History
Beyond his military career, Charles Fraser was a well-known historian. He was especially good at understanding Scottish clans. Clans are like large families or groups with shared history.
Officer of Arms
In 1939, he became a Dingwall Pursuivant. This is a special job in the Court of the Lord Lyon. People in this court are experts in Scottish heraldry. They help create and record coats of arms. In 1953, he was promoted to Albany Herald. This was an even higher position in the court.
Writing About Clans
Charles Fraser was an expert on Scottish clan history. He also knew a lot about family trees, which is called genealogy. He wrote two important books about different Scottish clans:
- The Clan Cameron, A Patriarchy Beset (1953)
- The Clan Munro (1954)
These books helped many people learn about their Scottish heritage.
His Family and Home
In 1929, Charles Fraser married Mary Charity Campbell-Preston. They had four children together. He was also the Laird of Reelig. A Laird is a traditional Scottish landowner.
