Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat

In late 1899, he raised the Lovat Scouts for service in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and from February 1900 served as their second-in-command with the rank of captain, in charge of the mounted infantry.[6] For the Lovat Scouts, he chose the best marksmen he could find and the perfect commander in the American, Frederick Russell Burnham, who served as Chief of Scouts to Lord Roberts, the British Army Commander-in-Chief.[7] The corps arrived in South Africa in early 1900, and was attached to the Black Watch, but were disbanded in July 1901 while two companies (the 113th and 114th) were formed for the Imperial Yeomanry. Lord Lovat continued as second in command of the two companies.

The war ended in June 1902, and Lord Lovat relinquished his commission with the Imperial Yeomanry and was granted the honorary rank of major in the Army on 11 July 1902.[8] He returned to the United Kingdom with the corps on the SS Tintagel Castle the following month, arriving to a public welcome in Inverness in late August.[9] For his service in the war, he was mentioned in despatches (including the final despatch by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902[10]), was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1900, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in October 1902.[11]

After the end of the Second Boer War, the remaining two companies (which had been attached to the Imperial Yeomanry for the latter part of the war) returned to the United Kingdom and were disbanded. The unit was reformed the following year, consisting of two regiments, titled the 1st and 2nd Lovat Scouts. From these scouts a sharpshooter unit was formed and formally become the British Army's first sniper unit.

Lord Lovat was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1903 by King Edward VII.[12] He later served as aide-de-camp to King George V.[13]

In World War I, he commanded the Highland Mounted Brigade of the 2nd Mounted Division, being promoted Brigadier-General in September 1914. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1915 for demonstrable leadership and courage.[4]

In March 1916, he took command of the 4th Mounted Division and became a Major General two months later.[14] He became a Rhodes Trustee in 1917, the same year as Rudyard Kipling.

In 1919, Lovat was awarded Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George and was appointed Chairman of the Army Forestry Commission, serving from 1919 to 1927.[4]

Apart from a military career Lovat was also Chairman of the Forestry Commission from 1919 to 1927 and served in the Conservative administration of Stanley Baldwin as Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs from 1927 to 1929.[15]

Through his eldest son Simon, he was a grandfather of six, including Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat (1939–1994), Hon. Fiona Mary Fraser (b. 1941) (wife of Robin Richard Allen), Hon. Annabel Thérèse "Tessa" Fraser (b. 1942) (wife of Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord Reay and Sir Henry Keswick), Hon. Kim Ian Maurice Fraser (1946–2020), Hon. Hugh Alastair Joseph Fraser (1947–2011) (husband of Drusilla Jane Montgomerie),[19] Hon. Andrew Roy Matthew Fraser (1952–1994) (husband of Lady Charlotte Anne Greville, a daughter of David Greville, 8th Earl of Warwick).[20]

Through his daughter Magdalen, he was a grandfather of three, including John Joseph Nicholas Scott, 5th Earl of Eldon (1937–2017) and Hon. Simon Peter Scott (b. 1939).[2]

Through his son Sir Hugh, he was a grandfather of six, including Rebecca Rose Fraser (b. 1957), Flora Fraser (b. 1958), Benjamin Hugh Fraser (b. 1961), Natasha Fraser (b. 1963), Damian Fraser (b. 1964), and Orlando Fraser (b. 1967).[4]

• Kidd, Charles; Williamson, David (editors) (1990). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. New York: St Martin's Press.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
• Dictionary of National Biography