Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 41 James Gibson Laurier Fraser was born in New Glasgow, N.S. on 14 September 1895, youngest of Duncan Cameron and Elizabeth (Graham) Fraser’s five children. Duncan Fraser was a lawyer by profession and was elected Member of Parliament for Guysborough in 1891. He held this position until 1904, at which time he accepted appointment to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Two years later, Duncan was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, a post he held until his untimely death at age 64 on 27 September 1910. Following her husband’s passing, Elizabeth relocated to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where she resided with her oldest daughter, Annie, and her husband, Rev. William G. Wilson. Her son Laurier, as he was known to family, and his older sister Sarah, accompanied their mother to Moose Jaw. Two other siblings, Alistair and Margaret Marjorie, had already left home. Alistair completed his studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax and later re-joined the family in Moose Jaw, where he commenced the practice of law. Alistair, like his father Duncan, also served as Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1952 to 1958. Margaret completed her nursing studies at Lady Stanley Institute, Ottawa and commenced employment at Vancouver General Hospital. In the meantime, upon completing his schooling, Laurier entered a five-year legal apprenticeship with a nearby Gull Lake, Sask. Law office. The outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 soon impacted the Fraser siblings. Shortly after the British declaration of war on Germany andAustria-Hungary, bothAlistair and Margaret travelled to Camp Valcartier, Quebec. Margaret enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, while Alistair accompanied the 17th Battalion (Nova Scotia) to England, where he received a commission as a Lieutenant when he attested with the unit. Alistair subsequently served in Belgium with the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry (PPCLI) and at Vimy Ridge, France with the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada). Too young to enlist at the time of the war’s commencement, Laurier joined the 60th Rifles of Canada, a Moose Jaw militia unit. On 19 February 1916, he enlisted with the 229th James Gibson Laurier Fraser WWI and Family Duncan Cameron Fraser Alistair Fraser Margaret Fraser continued ...
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