TRENTON - John William Fraser, age 93, of the Northumberland Veterans Unit and formerly of Trenton, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017 in the Veterans Unit.
Born in New Glasgow, he was a son of the late John R. and Mabel (Hoeg) Fraser. John worked at TrentonWorks until he was called up under the National Resources Mobilization Act. He stated, “You could refuse, but nobody did.” In April of 1943, he was in the army destined for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, a hard-fighting unit. John came ashore on D-Day and fought through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, one of those nameless civilians who dropped everything and won a war, came home and started where they had left off. John was shot through the ankle by grazing machine gun fire of the 12th SS German Division. Wounded men were not aided by the urgently advancing North Novas as they advanced toward Carpiquet Airport. He removed his boot, dressed his wound, abandoned his rifle and equipment, except for a grenade for self-defence, and started a long crawl to the rear. He came upon an anti-aircraft artillery unit and hollered for help. Learning he was from Trenton, Gunner MacDonald raced forward and John was taxied back to an aid station. This may have been the genesis of Gunner’s successful taxi business. John was patched up in England and boarded the train for Scotland for three weeks of convalescence leave where he met a young, attractive woman named Georgina Nelson, whom he later married. He hobbled back into action and was involved in all the major battles across Western Europe and, finally, into Northern Germany where he was blasted by an artillery round. His web equipment was shredded off him by shrapnel, his uniform was covered with a dark liquid which his comrades thought was profuse bleeding. John was uninjured; a can of chocolate drink had been riddled with shrapnel. After victory, the Battalion took over six months getting back home, arriving on January 1, 1946. John was out of the army and back to work within two weeks. He was quiet, humble and you would never know he had endured so much. While there are many more details of his war, let us not forget that John served, ran with the pack, endured unimaginable conditions and terror, then returned to society as if nothing happened. Men like John are part of a special group of unknowns from the Greatest Generation the world has seen. It is too late to thank them.
He was a member of the First United Church, Trenton and Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29.
He is survived by daughters: Gail; Lynn; sons: Ian (Betsy); Barry; Glenn; Blake; Todd (Daisy); Blair; Craig (Darlene); many grandchildren and great grandchildren; a brother, Roddie.
He was predeceased by his wife, Georgina Nelson; son, Nelson; sister, Elsie; brother, Angus.
There will be no visitation. Funeral service 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First United Church Hall with Rev. Wade Reppert. Reception to follow at Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29 Trenton. Burial will be at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Northumberland Veterans Unit. Arrangements are under the direction of the R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.rhporter.ca