Charles Craufurd Fraser

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Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Craufurd Fraser VC KCB (31 August 1829 – 7 June 1895) was a British Army officer and Conservative politician. He won the Victoria Cross for conspicuous and cool gallantry during the Indian Rebellion, on 31 December 1858 at the River Raptee in India, where he swam through heavy fire to rescue Captain Stisted and others, even though he was still recovering from a previous wound.

Fraser joined the 7th Hussars in 1847 as a cornet, becoming a lieutenant in 1850 and a captain in 1854. He transferred to the 11th Hussars in 1859 and became commanding officer as a lieutenant colonel in 1861. He was promoted to colonel in 1866 and served as commandant at headquarters during the Abyssinian War, earning mentions in despatches and the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In 1868 he became Colonel of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars and was promoted to major general in 1870. He served as aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cambridge from 1873 to 1877, and as Inspector General of Cavalry in Ireland from 1880 to 1884, later commanding the cavalry at Aldershot. He retired with the rank of lieutenant general in 1886.

In addition to his VC, Fraser was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Medal, 1st Class. He entered politics and was elected Member of Parliament for Lambeth North in 1885, serving until 1892. He was knighted in 1891.

Fraser died unmarried in London on 7 June 1895 at the age of 65. He is buried at Brompton Cemetery.