War Memorial
Eric Gordon Fraser was born in Leigh on 8th June 1894, the elder of two sons of Dr. Frank Fraser and Constance Fraser. His father served the village as its General Practitioner, and Eric grew up in a household closely tied to the life of the community.
When war came to Europe, he joined the Suffolk Regiment as number 8633 and saw service with its 2nd Battalion throughout the First World War, for which he received two campaign medals. In the years that followed he rose to become a Lieutenant Colonel, taking command of the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
By then he was married; his wife Nance lived at Winchmore Hill in Middlesex. On 23rd May 1940, aged 46, he died at sea from wounds received in action. He was brought home to rest in St. Mary's graveyard, Leigh, where his gravestone in the churchyard carries the words 'Dulce Est Pro Patria Mori'. Nancy died on 23rd February 1952.