Soldiers of the RegimentLieutenant
Charles Hamilton Malise Graham
Charles Hamilton Malise Graham, 1st King’s Own, commissioned from
Royal Military College, 17th February 1915 as 2nd Lieutenant. Lieutenant
26th October 1915. Attached 3rd King’s Own till June 1915. Killed in
action 12th April 1917. He was the nephew of Lieutenant Colonel
John Malise Anne Graham DSO, of the 3rd
Battalion, King's Own, and son of Major General Hamilton Maximillian
Christian Williams Graham.
Letter from the Red Cross dated 2nd May 1917
concerning the service of Lieutenant Graham with the 1st Battalion,
King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and the recommendation for the award
of the Victoria Cross.
British Red Cross and Order of St. John
Enquiry Department
2 May 1917
Lieutenant C H M Graham, 1st King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Dear Sir,
With regard to your enquiry re the above officer, we have received a
report from Private T Roberts, 2148, C.XII, 1st KORLR, now in hospital
in France, who gives the following information.
“I had the following from Private F C Hall, 25619, ‘D’ Coy. XIV Pltn. He
said that at Fampoux he was laying in a shell hole at dusk on 10th April
not more than 30 yards behind Lieutenant Graham when the latter was hit.
He saw him crawl into a shell hole and lie still. He thought he seemed
to be badly wounded. Just before being hit he had given the order to his
men, who were all behind him, to retire. Four hours after – it had
snowed heavily in the interval – he saw a party go out to seek him. He
saw the party return and got it form them that they had found the place
where he was wounded but he was gone. I heard the CSM saying that during
the day Lieutenant Graham had gone out under fire and brought in a
wounded Officer. He is known throughout the Battalion for his bravery
and for his care and attention to his men. That day I heard some West
Riding men comment on the disregard of his own danger with which he was
moving about among his men encouraging them.”
You will notice that this is only hearsay and will need confirmation;
but as our informant gives us the name of the Private who gave him the
information, should you wish to write to Private Hall we would recommend
your doing so care of the Record Office at Preston.
We have likewise another report, which though giving us very little
information, speaks with such great praise of Lieutenant Graham that we
feel you might possibly care to see it. Our informant Sergeant E Mann,
7861, 1st King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment also in hospital in
France, States:-
“I am very much distressed to hear that Mr Graham is missing. He was all
right when I came away on the 10th and was in charge of ‘D’ Company. He
was the most popular of our officers. We used to call him by a nickname
– sometimes even to his face. He has just been recommended for the VC
for his conduct in bringing in Mr Jewers. I was there at the time. We
saw Mr Jewers lying out and Mr Graham said “I can’t leave him lying
there.” “Carry on, Sir” says I and out he went. The men wanted to cheer
when he came back, but their voices wouldn’t work. A good few of them
were crying.”
Yours faithfully
Signed J. Howard
For the Earl of Lucan.
Notes:
Sergeant Ernest Mann DCM, number 7861, 1st King’s Own
Private Frederick Charles Hall, number 25619, 1st King’s Own
Private Thomas Roberts, number 2148, 1st King’s Own
Captain Stuart Frank Jewers, joined from Artist’s Rifles, wounded
25th April 1915 and 23rd October 1916 and in Battle of Arras April 1917.
Relinquished commission on account of ill-health causes by wounds and
retains rank of Lieutenant 11 May 1919.
Charles Hamilton Malise Graham, 1st King’s Own, commissioned from
Royal Military College, 17th February 1915 as 2nd Lieutenant. Lieutenant
26th October 1915. Attached 3rd King’s Own till Jun 1915. Killed in
action 12th April 1917.
Letter to Lieutenant Colonel John Malise Anne
Graham (uncle) from Captain J A G Leask of the 1st King’s Own.
To Colonel Graham
Dear Sir,
I am writing to let you know what information I can give about your son
Lieutenant C H M Graham. He was wounded – slightly, we believe – in the
leg on the 11th, but could not be brought in at once. At night three
separate parties went out to look for him, but not trace of him was
found. The Colonel, and all of us, think he is a prisoner in Bosche
hands.
In the big show which started at 5.30 a.m. on the 9th last your son was
entrusted with the command of my company, D, I being left out of it as a
reinforcement. The regiment took its objective with ease, but on Tuesday
and Wednesday they were pushed on into two minor attacks which could not
but fail. Your son was hit in the second of these. He did great work all
through and besides leading his Company he found rime to bring in two
wounded Officers and a sergeant under machine gun fire. I may say
(although, as you know recommendations are confidential) the colonel has
recommended him for the Highest reward possible.
“Bun” as we all called him, was a great fellow, and I assure you men and
Officers alike are more worried about his fate than about anything else.
I trust we will get news of him very soon, I shall let you know of
anything definite that I hear.
Believe me
Yours sincerely
(Signed) J A G Leask, Captain.
Notes:
Colonel John Malise Anne Graham DSO
served with the King’s Own from 1889 and was eventually promoted
Lieutenant Colonel in the Special Reserve.
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