Sir John Graham, 3rd Baronet
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Sir John Reginald Noble Graham, 3rd Baronet VC OBE (17 September 1892 – 6 December 1980) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), British Army, attached to 136 Company, Machine Gun Corps during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 April 1917 at Istabulat, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Graham was in command of a machine-gun section which came under very heavy fire. When his men became casualties he insisted on carrying the ammunition and although twice wounded, he continued in control and with one gun opened accurate fire on the enemy. This gun was put out of action and he was again wounded and forced to retire, but before doing so he disabled his gun and then brought a Lewis gun into action with excellent effect until all the ammunition was expended. He was wounded yet again and was again forced to retire.
During World War II he was given a temporary rank of lieutenant colonel and worked in the War office. From 1959 to 1979 he was Usher of the Green Rod to the Order of the Thistle. He succeeded his father to the Baronetcy in 1936.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
