Lieutenant Colonel John Fryer

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel John Fryer

 1871-1920

 Mess Jacket, c. 1910

 

 Fryer was the son of Lieutenant General Sir John Fryer, KCB, who commanded the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards) during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The younger Fryer became a second lieutenant in the 7th (Queen’s Own) Hussars on November 26, 1890. He was made aide-de-camp to his father in 1894, who was posted to the Cork District of Northern Ireland. Fryer received his captaincy in 1899 and served in the Second Boer War with the 7th Hussars. He was mentioned in despatches for operations at Cape Colony in December of 1902. Fryer was then assigned as adjutant of the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry in 1903. He made major in 1910 and was later placed in command of the Southern Cavalry Depot at Bristol. Fryer was appointed a Brigade Major on January 5, 1912, and assigned to the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade, which consisted of the Yeomanry regiments of the three Ridings of Yorkshire. The regiments that comprised the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade were assigned to other formations in 1915 and the brigade ceased to exist. Promoted to a temporary lieutenant colonel, Fryer then went to France as a staff officer with the General Headquarters.