Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Lovat
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Lord Lovat in 1942
|
|
| Born | 9 July 1911 Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland |
| Died | 16 March 1995 (aged 83) Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1930–1962 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Service number | 44718 |
| Unit | |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Territorial Decoration |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
| Spouse(s) |
Rosamond Broughton
(m. 1938) |
Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, known as Shimi Lovat, was a brave British Commando during World War II. He was also the 24th Chief of the Clan Fraser of Lovat, a famous Scottish clan. His clan called him MacShimidh, which is a Gaelic name.
Lord Lovat was born on July 9, 1911, and passed away on March 16, 1995. During the D-Day landings in Operation Overlord, he led the Special Service Brigade at Sword Beach. He successfully helped capture Pegasus Bridge, a very important target. He was famously accompanied by his personal piper, Bill Millin.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Simon Fraser was born at Beaufort Castle in Scotland. This was his family's historic home. His father was the 14th Lord Lovat.
He went to Ampleforth College and then Magdalen College, Oxford for his education. In 1930, he joined the Lovat Scouts, a part-time army unit. A year later, he joined the regular army with the Scots Guards. In 1932, he became the 15th Lord Lovat and the Chief of the Clan Fraser.
In 1938, Lord Lovat married Rosamond Broughton. They had six children together and lived at Beaufort Castle.
Leading Commandos in World War II
Just before World War II began in 1939, Lord Lovat rejoined the army as a captain. In 1940, he helped create a new type of special forces unit called the Commandos. These soldiers were trained for surprise attacks by sea, air, and land. They were all volunteers.
Lord Lovat was personally involved in training these elite troops in Scotland. He later led No. 4 Commando. In March 1941, his unit took part in Operation Claymore. This was a successful raid on the German-occupied Lofoten Islands in Norway. The Commandos destroyed factories and ships. They also captured German soldiers and important secret equipment.
In April, Lord Lovat led 100 men of No. 4 Commando in a raid on the French village of Hardelot. For his bravery in this action, he received the Military Cross medal. In 1942, he became a lieutenant-colonel and continued to command No. 4 Commando.
He led his unit in the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) on August 19, 1942. His Commandos successfully destroyed a German gun battery. For this, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
The Dieppe Raid was very difficult for the Allied forces, with many casualties. However, Lord Lovat's No. 4 Commando completed its mission and most of his men returned safely. The Commandos became so feared by the Germans that Hitler ordered them to be killed if captured. Lord Lovat himself had a large reward offered for his capture, dead or alive.
D-Day and Pegasus Bridge
In 1944, Lord Lovat was promoted to brigadier. He was given command of the new 1st Special Service Brigade. This brigade landed at Sword Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Lord Lovat famously waded ashore with his troops. He told his personal piper, Bill Millin, to play the bagpipes as they landed. This was against army rules, but Lord Lovat said it didn't apply to Scotsmen.
Lovat's forces quickly moved inland. Lord Lovat himself led parts of his brigade from Sword Beach to Pegasus Bridge. This bridge had been bravely defended by British airborne troops who landed earlier by glider. Lord Lovat's Commandos arrived shortly after 1 p.m. at Pegasus Bridge. They then set up defenses around Ranville, east of the Orne River.
On June 12, during the Battle of Breville, Lord Lovat was badly wounded. He was observing an artillery attack when a shell landed near him. He was awarded the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre by France for his service.
Life After the War
Lord Lovat recovered from his injuries but could not return to active army duty. In 1945, Winston Churchill sent him to Moscow as an envoy to meet with Stalin. Churchill later noted that Stalin was impressed by "young military fighters like Lord Lovat."
After the war, Lord Lovat declined an offer to join the government in a senior role. However, he did serve as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs briefly in 1945. He officially retired from the army in 1962, keeping his honorary rank of brigadier.
Lord Lovat remained involved in politics in the British House of Lords. He spoke on Scottish issues and served on the Inverness County Council for 42 years. He worked to modernize the area. He also spent much time managing his family's large estates in the Scottish Highlands. He was known for breeding cattle and was an international judge. He was also the chieftain of the Lovat Shinty Club, a local sports team.
Lord Lovat faced sadness in his later years when two of his sons passed away within days of each other. In 1994, his family's traditional home, Beaufort Castle, was sold. Lord Lovat passed away in 1995. His grandson, Simon Christopher Fraser, became the 16th Lord Lovat.
Media
Lord Lovat was portrayed in the 1962 film The Longest Day, which was based on the book about D-Day. In the film, he was played by Peter Lawford.
Family
Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, was the eldest child of Simon Joseph Fraser, 14th Baron Lovat. He married Rosamond Delves Broughton in 1938. They had six children:
- Simon Augustine Fraser, Master of Lovat (1939–1994)
- Hon. Fiona Mary Fraser (born 1941)
- Hon. Annabel Thérèse Fraser (1942–2022)
- Hon. Kimball Ian Maurice Fraser (1946–2020)
- Hon. Alastair Hugh Joseph Fraser (1947–2011)
- Hon. Andrew Matthew Roy Fraser (1952–1994)
Sadly, his first son, Simon, and his fourth son, Andrew, passed away in 1994, just before Lord Lovat himself died in 1995. The title then went to his grandson, Simon Christopher Fraser.
