John Fraser was born in Banff, Banffshire, Scotland in 1825 and attested with the 92nd Highlanders on 15 Mar 1842 aged 17 years, transferring to the 42nd Highlanders on 1 Junly 1842 and 93rd Highlanders on 1 Aug 1853, serving in the Crimea and during the Indian Mutiny, when he was 'wounded at Lucknow on 11 Mar 1858 by a bullet through the left shoulder which injured the head of the humerus.
The head of the bone was exposed and an excision of nearly 3 inches of the shaft of the humerus was performed in Lucknow on 17 Mar 1859.
Fraser was declared unfit for further service and discharged on 31 May 1859.