Charles 'Pop' Fraser

Lieutenant-General Charles Alan 'Pop' Fraser SSA SM (6 April 1915 – 18 December 1994)[1] 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.

Lieutenant General Charles Alan Fraser SSA SM
Nickname(s)	Pop, Alan
Born	(1915-04-06)6 April 1915[1] Mooi River[1][2]
Died	18 December 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 79)[1] Howick, KwaZulu-Natal[1]
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)​ [1]
Other work	South African Ambassador to Iran

With the rank of captain, he completed the 5th Senior Staff Duties War course at the British Middle East Staff College, Haifa in Palestine during period 8 September - 31 December 1941. 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.[3]

He served as Chief of the Army from 1966 to 1967,[4] 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.