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Memories of the Beaches of Dunkirk
Northern times 05.10.90

“These two Sutherland Tech old Boys, both World War II veterans, met for the first time recently.

They are linked by a special relationship – for Mr George Sutherland (left) now of Edderton, was rescued at Dunkirk by an unknown solider who turned out to be a native of Embo, and is the late father of Mr William Fraser. (right)

Details to commemorate the 50th anniversary, earlier this year, of the evacuations, described how 350,000 soldiers were saved by a fleet of tiny boats and trawlers ferrying them off from France to bigger ships off shore.

One of these soldiers was Mr Sutherland. Originally from Caithness, he attended Sutherland Technical School, and during the war transferred to the Royal Mechanical Engineers while in France.

Speaking on a radio programme about Dunkirk, he said he was anxious to learn the identity of the unknown rescuer who pulled him to safety onto a trawler.

He is most reluctant to discus his own wartime experiences - “There were many gallant men there, swarms of them like bees. I don’t like talking about it at all.”

However, he will reveal his thankfulness at being greeted by someone whose accent was recognisable as the sound of home – and being given a tot of rum !

The unfinished story was completed when Mr Sutherland met the son of his rescuer.

William Fraser’s father, Thomas was originally from Embo and when the war started was a trawler skipper out of Grimsby . A Naval reservist, he was involved in the rescue mission off Dunkirk then minesweeping at Falmouth when his ship was sunk. Although he was rescued he contracted chronic bronchitis from his time in the water and was eventually invalided out of the Navy.

Mr Fraser junior was serving in the Navy at that same time – at the other end of the country, in Scapa Flow. He was brought up in Embo by his grandparents, attending the technical school before moving to Grimsby. His father, like Mr Sutherland , seems to have been a reluctant hero, and spoke little of his role at Dunkirk .

There are still several relations left in Sutherland, and Mr Fraser returns to Embo every year to visit his old home.

Mr Sutherland had told his radio audience he would welcome the chance of shaking hands with his rescuer. Meeting William Fraser was as close as he could he could get.”