David Alexander Fraser, RN
| Born | 14 Sep 1907 |
 | Ranks
Retired: 14 Sep 1952 Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for David Alexander Fraser, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Oswald (N 58) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | Feb 1940 | 1 Aug 1940 |
Career information
On retiring from the Royal Naval he was promoted to Commander and joined the Thames Nautical Training Ship HMS Worcester as executive officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Oswald (N 58)
3 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (1)
15 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (1)
19 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (1)
24 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (1)
25 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria with HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, RN) and HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, RN) and later together with HMS Kingston Crystal (Lt.Cdr. G.H.P. James, RNR) and HMS Sindonis (Ch.Skr. G. Rawding, RNR). (1)
27 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (1)
28 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria together with HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.deW. Kitcat, RN). (1)
29 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Phoenix (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Nowell, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria with HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Morrow, RAN). (2)
30 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria together with HMS HMS Hostile (Cdr. J.P. Wright, RN), HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Imperial (Lt.Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and later on the day together with HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN) and HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN). (1)
3 Jun 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (3)
11 Jun 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Alexandria for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Karpathou Strait. Later patrol area was shifted to the Dardanelles.
For the daily positions (though incomplete) of HMS Oswald during this patrol see the map below. No positions are known after 30 June 1940 as th log for July 1940 was lost with HMS Oswald.
(3)
7 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Alexandria. (4)
20 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) departed Alexandria for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the east coast of Sicily. (5)
30 Jul 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) made an unsuccesful attack on a large Italian convoy about 20 nautical miles to the south of Cape dell'Armi. The Italian destroyer Grecale which was near the merchant vessel Col di Lana reported being missed.
The convoy attacked by Oswald was made up of the Italian merchant vessels Maria Eugenia (4702 GRT, built 1928), Gloriastella (5490 GRT, built 1922), Mauly (5942 GRT, built 1925), Bainsizza (7933 GRT, built 1930), Col di Lana (5891 GRT, built 1926), Francesco Barbaro (6343 GRT, built 1940) and Citta di Bari (3220 GRT, built 1927). They had departed Naples, escorted by the torpedo boats Procione, Orione, Orsa and Pegaso. From Catania, Sicily the destroyers Maestrale, Libeccio, Grecale and Scirocco joined the convoy.
Oswald reported this convoy by radio.
1 Aug 1940
On 1 August 1940, HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN), sent her last signal reporting enemy cruisers proceeding northwards through the Straits of Messina. (5)
Sources
- ADM 173/16374
- ADM 173/16374 + ADM 173/16429
- ADM 173/16375
- ADM 199/2564
- ADM 199/1115
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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