William Frederick Frazier joined the Royal Navy in 1907, training as a Stoker. He first saw service with HMS Formidable in 1908 as part of the Channel Fleet. He then spent time overseas in HM Ships Hermes and Pandora. Frazier retuned home and served in the shore establishment HMS Fisgard, before being assigned to the First Cruiser Squadron on board HMS Princess Royal. In September of 1915 Frazier was assigned to HMS Dolphin, a submarine depot ship. He was then deployed to the submarine depot ship HMS Adamant in July 1915 as a part of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron in the Dardanelles. Frazier’s final posting was in HMS Submarine H3 from April 1916. He died on 15 July 1916 when H3 was mined and sunk in the Adriatic Sea.
The First World War Memorial Plaque was awarded to the next of kin of New Zealand servicemen and women who were killed while serving overseas, or who died of wounds received while serving overseas, during the First World War. The plaque is not designed to be worn. The next of kin of New Zealand Mercantile Marine personnel who lost their lives through enemy action during the First World War, or later died of injuries caused by enemy action, were awarded the Mercantile Marine Memorial Plaque.
