Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, DSO, MC Military CrossDistinguished Service Order
Campaign:
World War 2
Died:
16.3.1955
Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, 4th Baron Lovat, DSO, MC, CStJ, TD, JP, DL (9 July 1911 – 16 March 1995[1]) was a prominent British Commando during the Second World War and the 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser of Lovat. Known familiarly as Shimi Lovat, an anglicised version of his name in Scottish Gaelic; his clan referred to him as MacShimidh, his Gaelic patronym. During Operation Overlord, he led the Special Service Brigade at Sword Beach and to successfully capture Pegasus Bridge, famously accompanied by his piper, Bill Millin.
Winston Churchill described Lovat as 'the handsomest man to slit a throat', being a renowned and feared military leader. Indeed, Hitler supposedly placed a bounty of 100,000 marks on his head, dead or alive in 1944.[2] While the 15th Lord de jure, he was the 17th Lord Lovat de facto, but for the attainder of his Jacobite ancestor, the 11th Lord Lovat, who was famously executed in 1747. He was also 4th Baron Lovat in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
He transferred to the regular army while still a second lieutenant, joining the Scots Guards in 1931.[4] The following year, Fraser succeeded his father to become the 15th Lord Lovat (referred to as the 17th Lord Lovat) and 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser. He was promoted lieutenant in August 1934.Lovat resigned his regular commission as a lieutenant in 1937, transferring to the Supplementary Reserve of Officers.
Memorial(s):
| Country | Location | Name of Memorial | Campaign | Names | Date(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Normandy, France | Sword Beach Memorial to Lord Lovat | World War 2 |
Lord Lovat | 16-3-1955 | View |
Further information:
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