Gregor Fraser

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Gregor Fraser
1874-84 Fraser Gregor 92nd Regiment Gilpin-Brown Photos b Enhanced Colourised cropped 2.jpg
Born(1837-04-10)10 April 1837
“Ryneckra”, Grantown, Cromdale and Inverallan, Invernesshire
Died27 February 1910(1910-02-27) (aged 72)
Dalcross, Croy, Invernesshire
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain (pre Acts of Union 1800)
 United Kingdom (post Acts of Union 1800)
Service/branchFlag of the British Army.svg British Army
Years of service1855-1877
RankPipe Major (1868-1875)
Unit92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
Battles/warsIndian Mutiny

Gregor Fraser (4 October 1837 – 27 February 1910) was the Pipe-Major for the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot[1] between 1868 and 1875[2].

Pipers of the 92nd. Assumed to be Pipe Major Gregor Fraser (centre), possibly taken in Jullunder, between December 1868 and December 1871
92nd on parade. Assumed to be Pipe Major Gregor Fraser (right hand marker for the second rank from the front, note also the pipe-major rank of 4 chevrons on his right sleeve), possibly taken in Jullunder, between December 1868 and December 1871
The silver chanter[3] presented to Pipe Major G. Fraser by regimental assistant surgeon, Dr Thomas Campbell Tolmie in 1871. It is on display at the Gordon Highlanders’ Museum https://www.gordonhighlanders.com

Initial Service

Fraser was born in born[4] near to the town of Grantown (Granton-on-Spey), Inverness-shire, Scotland. He enlisted[5] on 5 December 1855 aged 18 years of age. Following an initial period of home service[6] , he joined the regiment (who were recently returned from the Crimea) in Malta on 10 May 1856. On 6 March 1858, the 92nd arrived in India, disembarking at Bombay, and were deployed to the central provinces[7][8][9] in support of efforts to quell the Mutiny. From 21 May 1863, the regiment returned to home service and were garrisoned variously at Gosport, Edinburgh - where on 16 April 1864 new colours[10] were presented at the Castle esplanade – then Glasgow[11] and finally, Aldershot. Fraser ended his first of two periods of service on 7 December 1865.

Re-enlistment

A little over 15 months later, on 9 March 1867, Fraser reenlisted[12] and re-joined the regiment in Ireland as it had now been tasked to support the civil power. He was engaged as a drummer on 15 June 1867, and then as a piper on 1 December 1867[13]. It was also here in Cork, on 15 January 1868, that his future wife, Isabella Nicholson[14], married fellow piper, John Beveridge. On 26 January 1868, the regiment returned to India, to the north west frontier area south of Afghanistan, at Jullunder (Jalandhar) in the Punjab[15]. Later in the same year, on 4 December, Fraser was appointed[16] Pipe Major[17]. The following year, on 1 August 1870, John Beveridge succumbed to “remittent fever”; shortly thereafter, on 30 September 1870, Gregor married Isabella[18]. In 1871, Fraser was gifted a silver chanter by the regimental assistant surgeon, the inscription thereon reads, “Presented to Pipe-Major G. Fraser / by Dr. T.C. Tolmie[19] / 92nd Gordon Highlanders 20th October 1871”. Further garrison deployments included Chukrata (Chakrata) from 2 March 1872 and then Mooltan[20] (Multan) from 13 January 1874[21].

Medical Discharge

Fraser returned to Portsmouth on 24th February 1876 having been invalided from India due to a long-standing shaking palsy disability which was first observed some 14 years previously. His condition also required him to be hospitalised in Aberdeen between 3rd October 1876 to 18th of October 1876.

At his medical board it was noted that, “the symptoms are now so pronounced as to prevent his feeding himself almost, and he can play the bagpipes with the greatest of difficulty and often he is quite unable to do so. The disability appears to have been the result of Indian climate and military service and has not been aggravated by vice or intemperance” - furthermore, the “disability is permanent and will affect his future power of contributing to his own support”. The report concluded that due to his condition, Fraser “will not be able to contribute towards earning a livelihood' and should be discharged 'on account of permanent unfitness”. Following approximately 20 years[22] of service with the 92nd, on 10 April 1877, he was medically discharged[23].

Lt. Colonel CG Gardyne wrote[24] of his departure: "Among those who left at this time was Gregor Fraser, a pipe major of the old school whose quaint remarks & pithy sayings were long remembered in the Regimental family…He retired to pension as a private & lived at Culloden Moor ". Fraser has also been described as, “a fine stamp of a Highlander”[25].

Upon retirement, Fraser returned to Scotland and lived in Durris, Deeside; Dalcross, Invernesshire; Dysart, Fife; Greenock, Renfrewshire, and; Goven, Lanarkshire. Although Fraser was in receipt of an army pension, he also worked as a general labourer and a farmer. He retired to Dalcross where he died of heart disease[26], aged 72, on 27 February 1910.

Compositions

During his regimental service Fraser[27] composed at least one pipe tune, a march, entitled, “Major AW Cameron[28], 92 Highlanders[29]”.

Gilpin Brown Regimental Photographs

The two regimental photographs[30] are taken from Captain Edward Gilpin Brown’s[31] collection[32], which is now held by the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto[33][34]. Gilpin Brown joined the regiment in Mooltan from 9 January 1875 onwards. However, it is believed that these two photographs were taken earlier when the 92nd was based in Jullunder. The Fisher archive note confirms that the photographs were collected from many different sources, “…by the commercial photographers Samuel Bourne, Charles Shepherd and Arthur Robertson as well as photographs by unknown photographers”, which means Brown could have collected them retrospectively. Secondly, the band (regimental photograph, left at the second row from the front) are wearing white jackets which were replaced with scarlet only in 1873[35]. Thirdly, the building in the backdrop is almost identical in design to Wellington Barracks[36], Jullundur. By 26 January 1868, the 92nd was stationed in Jullunder, relocating on 18 December 1871 to Delhi and then on 2 Feb 1872 to Chukrata; Fraser was promoted to pipe-major on 4 December 1868. Therefore, it is very likley that these photographs were taken in Jullunder at some point during the three-year period of December 1868 to December 1871; if correct, then Pipe Major Gregor Fraser features in the photographs.

Pipe Majors of the Regiment

Pipe Majors of the Regiment were:

100th (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot (raised in 1794)


92nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot (renumbered in 1798)

  • circa 1811-17 Alexander Cameron[37]
  • circa 1850- Duncan McPhail[38][39]

92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot (renamed in 1861)[40]

  • -1867 David Muir[41]
  • 1868-75 Gregor Fraser

References

  1. ^ https://wiki.fibis.org/w/92nd_Regiment_of_Foot
  2. ^ Medical History - War Office Form 1143. Fraser was appointed between 4 December 1869 – 25 January 1875
  3. ^ The photograph can be found in the book, "Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipes”, Alexander Duncan Fraser, Pp. 184-185
  4. ^ According to his old parish record of birth he is born at the remote residence called, “Ryneckra”, which lies to the east of Grantown, and which sits in the parish of Cromdale and Inverallan. According to WO Form 1143 and his Regimental Board discharge papers (WO Form 83), he was born in the neighbouring parish of Abernethy.
  5. ^ WO Form 1143 - at the time of enlistment his profession is that of, ploughman. He is “64 ½” inches tall, which equates to 5.37 feet. On discharge his height is recorded at “5 feet 5- and three-quarter inches” (WO Form 83). The standard height for recruits was 5ft 6 inches, occasionally 5ft 8 inches, but from 1870 it was reduced to 5ft 5½, then 5 ft 5 in 1871, and 5ft 4½ in 1873, Lt. Col. CG Gardyne, The Life of a Regiment - The Gordon Highlanders, Volume II", 1929, p.49, 112, 115
  6. ^ Detailed Medical History for Invaliding - WO Form 891
  7. ^ During this time the 92nd or its subunits were located and / or operated in and around: Bombay, Colaba, Dugshai, Umballa, Benares, Rajghaut, Surat, Mhow, Oojein, Agoor, Soosneer, Zeerapoor, Buliwarrah, Rajghur, Bhowra, Seronj, Mungrowlee, Nurat, Sindwaho, Tehree, Dujorial, Kuraya Bhilsa, Bhopal, Sehore, Jeelwana, Rutlâm, Baroda, Jhansi, Bursud, Ummeerghur, Karadev, Lullutpoor, Seepree, Bundelcund, and Calcutta. Electric Scotland. Retrieved 2 November 2022. http://www.cabarfeidh.com/gordons2.htm
  8. ^ There is a National Archive (WO12/9371) record for a Gregor Fraser, who is a piper with the 92nd, army number 3695, based in Dugshai, India in 1861, it is likely, but not confirmed, that this is the same person – the service numbers for the two enlistment periods are different and it is unclear if individuals retained their numbers on re-enlistment or were issued new service numbers
  9. ^ Fraser does not appear to have been an Indian Mutiny Medal recipient https://search.fibis.org/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=169&s_id=67
  10. ^ The Regimental Colours of the 92nd Regiment of Foot are laid up at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. Melven, William. "The 92nd Gordon Highlanders: 1874 – 1886". https://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/gordons/chap3.htm
  11. ^ With detachments at Paisley and Ayr
  12. ^ WO Form 83. His army number for his second period of service was, 1538
  13. ^ WO Form 83
  14. ^ Isabella Nicholson: born, Dysart, Kirkaldy, Scotland, 19 December 1843 – died, 40 Beaconsfield Road, Seaforth, Liverpool, 13 January 1926. She and John Beveridge had a son, John, born Jullunder, 17 Dec 1868
  15. ^ Now, modern-day Pakistan
  16. ^ “Senior amongst the Pipers was the Pipe Major or Piper Major and it would seem that these men were sometimes specially recruited for their musical skill and perhaps their ability to teach less able players already in the Regiment”. Henderson, Diana Mary; “A social and domestic history of the kilted and highland based regiments of foot. 1820 – 1920”, PhD submission, University of Edinburgh, 1986
  17. ^ Pipe-major David Muir (1836-), army number 858, preceded Fraser as pipe-major of the 92nd. Muir initially enlisted with the 42nd Regt. Of Foot (Black Watch) and ended his service with the 92nd in Dublin, in April 1867 (WO Form 83)
  18. ^ Official records show that Isabella and Gregor had 6 children, William Donald, born Chukrata on 11 Dec 1872; Jane Margaret Ritchie, born Mooltan, 17 January 1874, died of bronchitis, 15 December 1875; Charles David, born Mooltan, 13 Feb 1876; Gregor born Durris, Kincardine, Deeside, 22 April 1878; Thomas Nicholson born, Dalcross Glebe, Croy, Inverness, 6 August 1881; and Susan also born Dalcross, 24 Dec 1883
  19. ^ Brigade Surgeon Thomas Campbell Tolmie RAMC (1839-1919) was the regimental Assistant Surgeon for the 92nd Regiment of Foot from 12 October 1867 until approximately 1873 – from 1874 onwards, Tolmie no longer features in Hart’s Army Lists for the 92nd. Tolmie was promoted to Surgeon on 1 March 1873 and this may have resulted in a new posting. Why the silver chanter was presented to Fraser and on the date inscribed remains unclear
  20. ^ Four days following their arrival on 17 January 1874, and after some 50 days of travel, Isabella gave birth to daughter Jane
  21. ^ Fraser was “in-confinement” from 26 January to 29 January 1875, court martialled and demoted to the rank of private, then later, piper (WO Form 83)
  22. ^ Soldiers tended to be discharged after serving 21 years and were eligible for a pension, Gardyne p.49
  23. ^ His intended place of residence on leaving was Durris, Aberdeenshire. It is likely that Fraser was illiterate as the discharge paper is signed with an, ‘X’ (WO Form 83)
  24. ^ Gardyne, p.119
  25. ^ “Two prominent army Pipe Majors were Frasers from the Beauly area (when a record states a person was born in Beauly, it often means merely that the birth or baptism was registered there; the child may have been born anywhere in the parish, up to 25 miles away). Gregor Fraser joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1856, and was their Pipe Major for ten years (1867-1877), described as ‘a fine stamp of a Highlander’… The piping Frasers in the Beauly district were related by various marriages over the years to the piping MacDonalds in Glenurquart, to whom John MacDonald, lnverness, belonged”. https://bagpipe.news/2021/01/16/george-moss-and-the-fraser-pipers/
  26. ^ Stepson, John Beveridge was the informant.
  27. ^ "Before a Piper can become a Pipe-Major or Sergeant-Piper, as is the rank, his capabilities must not only be of a distinguished player but also of composer of Piobaireachd and the Ceol Beag (Little Music), the marches, strathspeys and reels" Malcolm. C.A. MA. PhD. "The Piper In Peace And War". Reprint 1993. First published 1927
  28. ^ Lt Colonel Arthur Wellington Cameron (1827-1888) was a serving officer with the 92nd from 6 December 1844 until retirement as full Colonel on 28 October 1876 (London Gazette). Cameron was promoted to Major on 6-9 February 1865 (as recorded by the London and Edinburgh gazettes respectively); then Lt. Colonel on or about 21 January 1874 (as reported in the Aberdeen Journal newspaper of that date, page 5). It is possible that the pipe tune was composed at some date between December 1868 and January 1875. During this period both individuals held the ranks as ascribed, namely Major & Pipe-Major. The reason for the composition can only be guessed at: presumably they both held each other in high regard; Cameron, a Gaelic speaker (as was Fraser), was familiar with highland life and he was a popular officer; commemoration of Cameron’s distinguished service for an event or in general; Cameron having a hand in Fraser’s promotion or supportive generally?
  29. ^ www.geocities.com/Heartland/6402/Folk4.txt
    A sample may be found at: http://users.pandora.be/scottischkilt2/Midi/midi/majorawcameron.mid
    A copy of the sheet music may be located at: majorcam.gif
  30. ^ Note, Fraser's profile picture is a coloured copy of the Gilpin Brown original and may not fully replicate the exact uniform colour scheme
  31. ^ Edward Gilpin Brown (1854-1904) was first commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant into a militia unit, the Durham Artillery, on 24 December 1873 (London Gazette 23 December 1873). His service with the 92nd ran from 28 February 1874 until his retirement on 2 July 1884 (Service record – WO Form B199)
  32. ^ https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasfisherlibrary/sets/72157629220882012/with/6982672601/
  33. ^ https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/edward-gilpin-brown-papers
  34. ^ https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/downloads/edward-gilpin-brown-papers.pdf
  35. ^ Gardyne, p. 114
  36. ^ https://www.25thlondon.com/hb2album/india/index.html
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/northampton_museum/with/5693026498/
  37. ^ Gibson, John G., Traditional Gaelic Bagpiping, 1745-1945, McGill-Queen's Press, 1998; Edinburgh Annual Register 1817
  38. ^ Gardyne p. 60
  39. ^ Army number 2591. Awarded the Indian Mutiny Medal https://www.noonans.co.uk/services/resources/medal-rolls/4/
  40. ^ In 1881 the Gordon Highlanders were formed following the amalgamation of the 92nd with the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment
  41. ^ Pipe-major David Muir (1836-), army number 858, preceded Fraser as pipe-major of the 92nd. Muir initially enlisted with the 42nd Regt. Of Foot (Black Watch) and ended his service with the 92nd in Dublin, in April 1867 (WO Form 83)
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