A Red Plaque for a fallen firefighter has been unveiled 113 years after he died in the line of duty, after a social media plea to find relatives was successful.
William Fraser was aged 28 and a father to a new-born baby when he lost his life fighting a large warehouse fire in Aberdeen, on March 2 1909. He was knocked off a ladder at the site by debris, falling 40 feet to the ground. He died 10 minutes after falling.
His great, great granddaughter came forward after recognising her relative’s story on a Facebook post by firefighter Ross Urquhart of Central Community Fire Station, who has helped organise the plaque, and Mr Fraser’s family were then involved with the unveiling of the plaque.
He is believed to be the last serving firefighter to be killed in the line of duty in Aberdeen.
The plaque is situated at Adelphi Court, where the fire took place, and was unveiled yesterday.
The plaque unveiling was prefaced by a small service involving Mr Fraser’s family at Trinity Cemetery, followed by a procession involving fire engines including a 1915 model North East Scottish Fire Heritage Club engine, which travelled along Aberdeen main streets King Street and Union Street. It was led by a piper for its final 50 meters.
That procession route was close to that of Mr Fraser’s funeral procession, which according to the Aberdeen Journal was attended by thousands of people, bringing Aberdeen to a standstill, and featured a fire engine drawn by four black horses.
The plaque that was unveiled is a Red Plaque. The Red Plaque scheme aims to commemorate firefighters who died in the line of duty, and is administered by the Fire Brigades Union. This is the first Red Plaque in the area.
It reads “Honouring the bravery and sacrifice of William Fraser of Aberdeen Central Fire Station who gave his life in the line of duty at Adelphi Court, Aberdeen 2 March 1909”.
Ross Urquhart, the firefighter and FBU member who did the research for the plaque and found Mr Fraser’s descendants, said:
“Red Plaques remind us of the extraordinary sacrifices that firefighters make, and we are glad to be able to honour the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in Aberdeen with one. As an Aberdeen firefighter today I wanted to make sure that William was remembered appropriately. I felt we owed him that.”
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said:
“William Fraser died over a century ago but the day we should stop remembering his bravery and sacrifice will never come. No firefighter who dies in the line of duty should ever be forgotten, and William will not be. Every day members of the public will see this plaque and remember that he gave his life.
“William left a new-born baby behind, and we are extremely glad that descendants of him were with us today as we unveil this plaque.”
At the unveiling itself there were words read on the family’s behalf by Mr Fraser’s great grandson, as well as speeches from Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack, Aberdeen City local senior official Chay Ewing and Aberdeen Lord Provost Barney Crockett. There was also be a minute’s silence, and wreath-laying.
The Red Plaque scheme is funded by the Firefighters 100 lottery, which is also administered by the Fire Brigades Union and aims to raise money for good causes related to the fire and rescues service. The lottery can be entered at www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk.
