A
Tribute to
Fraser
Charles Weatherall
Private
17
March 1912- 11 December 1944
age
32 years
click to enlarge
Fraser
Charles Weatherall, the son of Charles and Mary Jane, was born on March 17, 1912 on the 10th Concession of
Puslinch Township on Mat Bulmer's
farm. Fraser had two sisters, Elsie
and Mable
and Elsie has a daughter, Shirley
Bottaro.
He also has a cousin, Margaret
Rolfe who lives in Aberfoyle.
Fraser's
father was a farmer and so Fraser
also farmed, as well as working for other farmers in the Corwhin
area. Fraser
was noted for his great sense of humour and would put on quite a
performance in community plays.
Fraser
joined the Royal Canadian Army Services Corps in 1942 as private A/61432
and was attached to the 2nd
Infantry Brigade. The 2nd
Infantry Brigade consisted of Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry, The Seaforth
Highlanders of Canada and The Loyal Edmonton Regiment. The Corps provided
overseas Units ranging from infantry brigade and armoured brigade companies to
bridge companies and transport columns, in addition to Units for formation in
Canada. Units or personnel were provided for duty in various parts of the world.
The ratio of Supply & Service to combat soldier, artillery and engineers is
about 6 to 1.
Fraser
was thought to have been in North Africa
just before the invasion of Sicily as the Artillery guns used in Sicily
came from North Africa. Fraser
was a truck driver.
After Sicily and the push north from the invasion of the mainland on
September 3, 1943 to Calabria, to the Foggia
Plain, to Ortona
in December 1943, to Rome in May, 1944, to Florence in June, 1944, and
the Breaking of the Gothic line in August, 1944, to the Battle of the Rimini
Line in September 1944, into the Lombard
Plain in September and October 1944 and the Battle of the Rivers in
December, 1944, Supply and Service looked after everything from food to ammunitions
to spare parts, tents, etc.
When Fraser was killed near Ravenna and the Comachio
lagoon on December 11, 1944, the 2nd
Inf.
Bde.
Coy. was on reserve after putting in some heavy fighting in rain with
canals and dykes filled to capacity. It
is thought that he volunteered for some Supply mission with a "We
all have to die sometime" comment. During some heavy shelling he
took refuge under a bridge and the bridge came down.
Lindsay
McFarlane
said in a letter home that he thought Fraser
must have been killed as he received his parcel from home. Everyone had
to have an alternative name to receive mail in case of a fatality.
The Canadians were among twenty‑six nationalities represented in the
Allied forces in Italy. A total of 92,757 Canadians of all ranks served in this
theatre, and more than a quarter of them became casualties. The final toll
includes 5,764 dead, 19,486 wounded and 1,004 captured.
There are few memorials to their efforts unlike Normandy. Only the
cemeteries tell the tale of what happened here in 1943,1944, and 1945. Canada's
dead can be found in seventeen war cemeteries between Agina,
Sicily and Argenta
in Northern Italy. All are immaculately maintained.
Veteran Duncan
Fraser
stated: "The war in Italy was cruel and dirty. Under‑equipped
with everything but spirit, guts and determination, the Canadians in Italy made
a reputation as tough and courageous fighters. They slugged
victoriously northward against an implacable, efficient and seasoned enemy army through the most
difficult and heartbreaking terrain encountered by any
army in the Second World War".
Fraser
is buried in the Ravenna War Cemetery, Italy. Grave reference V.E. 11.
References:
1.
The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy,
1943-1945, David
G. Dancocks McClelland &
Stewart Inc.
2.
The
Canadians in Italy, volume II,
1943-1945, Lt.Col
G.W.L.
Nicholson Queens Printer