Sir Reginald Graham, 3rd Baronet
| Sir Reginald Graham, 3rd Baronet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
17 September 1892 Calcutta, British India |
| Died |
6 December 1980 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Machine Gun Corps (attached) |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Order of the British Empire King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty |
| Other work | Usher of the Green Rod |
Lieutenant Colonel Sir (John) Reginald Noble Graham, 3rd Baronet VC OBE (17 September 1892 – 6 December 1980) was a British 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, "for most conspicuous bravery, coolness and resource when in command of a Machine Gun Section."[1]
He was the eldest son of Sir Frederick Graham, 2nd Baronet, and was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. Soon after the First World War broke out he joined the British army and was posted to 9th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). In 1916 he was seconded to 136 Company, Machine Gun Corps, which was sent to Mesopotamia. During the Samarrah Offensive Lieutenant Graham was in command of a machine-gun section which was co-operating with the 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force) near Istabulat on the evening of 22 April 1917:
- Lt. Graham accompanied his guns across open ground, under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire, and when his men became casualties, he assisted in carrying the ammunition.
Although twice wounded he continued during the advance to control his guns and was able, with one gun, to open an accurate fire on the enemy, who were massing for a counter-attack. This gun was put out of action by the enemy's rifle fire, and he was again wounded. The advancing enemy forced him to retire, but before doing so he further disabled his gun, rendering it useless.
He then brought a Lewis gun into action with excellent effect till all the ammunition was expended. He was again severely wounded, and forced through loss of blood to retire.
His valour and skilful handling of his guns held up a strong counter-attack which threatened to roll up the left flank of the Brigade, and thus averted what might have been a very critical situation.[1]
After recovering from his severe wounds Captain Graham, as he had become, was ordered back to Mesopotamia where he continued to serve until January 1918 when his company was transferred to Palestine where he was given command of the unit with the rank of major.
After the war, Graham returned to Scotland to a hero's welcome at his home village of Cardross.[2] He later worked in India in branches of the family firm, William Graham and Company, founded by his great-great-grandfather in Glasgow.[3]
In 1920 Graham married Rachel Sprot, daughter of Sir Alexander Sprot, 1st Baronet. They had one son (who inherited the baronetcy as Sir John Graham, 4th Baronet) and one daughter, Lesley married Jock Wykeham Strang Steel.[4]
Graham succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father in 1936. During World War II he was given a temporary rank of lieutenant colonel and served in Scottish Command. He was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours of 1946,[5] and King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty in 1949.[6]
From 1959 to 1979 Graham was Usher of the Green Rod to the Order of the Thistle[7][8] and participated in many state occasions including the unveiling of a memorial to King George VI in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh in 1962.[9] He died aged 88 in Edinburgh.[10][11] Lady Graham died in 1984.[12]
His medals are held by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling Castle.
References
- Graham, Sir (John) Reginald Noble, Burke's peerage, baronetage & knightage, clan chiefs, Scottish feudal barons 107th edition, volume 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage & Gentry (UK) Limited, 2003
- GRAHAM, Sir (John) Reginald (Noble), Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, accessed 21 Aug 2012]
- Lt.-Col. Sir John Reginald Noble Graham, 3rd Bt., V.C. – thepeerage.com
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Supplement to the London Gazette, 14 September 1917
- ↑ Villagers chaired VC hero – Helensburgh Heritage
- ↑ Memoirs and portraits of 100 Glasgow men: 41. William Graham. This is William Graham, junior, son of the firm's founder. His brother, John Graham of Skelmorlie, mentioned in the article, was father of the 1st Baronet.
- ↑ Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2011 - Steel of Philiphaugh Baronet
- ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1946
- ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette, 25 March 1949
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 24 February 1959
- ↑ Order of the Thistle – Whitaker's Almanack 1972
- ↑ Memorial To King George VI Unveiled – The Glasgow Herald, 5 July 1962
- ↑ Deaths: Graham – On 6 December 1980, Sir Reginald Graham of Larbert, Baronet, V.C., O.B.E. ..., The Times, London, 9 December 1980, page 24
- ↑ War hero dies – The Glasgow Herald, 10 December 1980
- ↑ Deaths: Graham – On 4 April 1984, Rachel (née Sprot) widow of Sir Reginald Graham Bart V.C., O.B.E. ..., The Times, London, 6 April 1984, page 28
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Edinburgh)
- Private Papers of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Reginald Graham Bt VC OBE – Imperial War Museum
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Frederick Graham, 2nd Baronet |
Baronet (of Larbert) 1936–1970 |
Succeeded by Sir John Graham, 4th Baronet |