Private William Thomas Graham
Private William Thomas Graham
1881 - 1968
Rifleman William Thomas Graham, Private, Regimental No. 1252, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. His Service Number was later changed to No. 31927 and again to No. 49618.
William Thomas Graham was born 25th October 1881 to Thomas Parker Aylward/Graham was born 1881 to Maria Graham (nee Hawes). His father was a Carman or Wine Merchant in Southwark and in later life, a Railway Porter. The family lived at 14 Princes Place, Great Suffolk Street, Southwark.
A Son of Southwark, and the only boy in a family of five children, he was schooled in Southwark, which at that time was heavily industrialised and living conditions poor. He was a keen sportsman, he took to sculling on the Thames, was a good swimmer and cyclist.
At the time of his Attestation his job is given as ‘Newsagent’. His next of kin were listed as his four sisters; Maria Newell, living at Queen’s Buildings, Southwark Bridge Road, Emma Parmenter, living at Vauxhall, and Rose Wilson and the unmarried younger sister Mary Jane Graham, living at Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith. His father’s name is registered as William Thomas Graham, address unknown.
On a census record for men serving overseas made in 1911, he is registered as living in Cairo. His age at this time is given as 25 and his birth year as 1886. On the census his occupation is also given as ‘Newsagent’.
He enlisted in the Army on Short Service, the Rifle Brigade on 11th November 1905. He gave his age as 21 at the time of enlisting. He served for 9 years at home (10/11/05 to 9/12/06) and in various countries including Malta (10/2/06 to 21/1/09), Egypt (22/1/09 to 4/2/13), India (5/2/13 to 5/2/13), and home (6/2/14 to 7/9/14). During this time he corresponded with Alice Maud Wilson, his future wife. After discharge he planned to buy a taxi, and together with his wife, he walked the streets of London to learn the ‘Knowledge’.
At the outbreak of the First World War in 5th August 1914, being on the Army Reserve, he was recalled at Winchester, sent to France, and was wounded at the first battle of the Marne, 6th to 10th September in 1914, defending Paris. He was left in a shell hole for 3 days and was pulled free by a drummer boy. He was put on a farm cart and travelled for 20 miles before help was provided. His Service Record notes that the injury was a shrapnel wound on the back.
He returned home to the Isle of Grain to convalesce. He was married at St James’ church, Gunnersbury during his convalescence on the 7th April 1915. Later he was transferred from the Rifle Brigade to the Defence Corps, and finally he was discharged on the 21st December, 1917 with the rank of L/Cpl.
He set up home with his wife, Alice, at 399 Chiswick High Road and later at 64 Wellesbry Road, Cheswick, West London. Finding suitable work was very difficult. His first child, Reginald Thomas Graham, was born on 4th November 1918. When his wife was expecting his second child, Joyce Winifred, born on the 7th November 1921, his health broke down. He was admitted to West Middlesex hospital under observation for 3 months and later transferred to Springfield Psychiatric hospital where he was diagnosed with what is now called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He remained in care for 47 years until his death. His wife and two children visited him regularly until he died.
He never recovered from the affects of his wounds. The term ‘battle weary and mentally scarred’, comes to mind. Unfortunately and unfairly, there was a stigma attached to mental illness, suffered by his nearest and dearest. He received the Silver War Badge and Certificate no. 296627 on the January 2nd, 1918, for the injuries he received but there were no V.C.’s or M.C.’s in his case. He received the King’s Certificate No. K.C.D.28037 on January 6th, 1920 and the British War Medal and Victory Medal on May 9th 1922. He was an example of a formally fit serving soldier, with a promising family life, deprived by the futility of war. He was one of the ‘Old Contemptibles’.
William Thomas Graham was born 25th October 1881 to Thomas Parker Aylward/Graham was born 1881 to Maria Graham (nee Hawes). His father was a Carman or Wine Merchant in Southwark and in later life, a Railway Porter. The family lived at 14 Princes Place, Great Suffolk Street, Southwark.
A Son of Southwark, and the only boy in a family of five children, he was schooled in Southwark, which at that time was heavily industrialised and living conditions poor. He was a keen sportsman, he took to sculling on the Thames, was a good swimmer and cyclist.
At the time of his Attestation his job is given as ‘Newsagent’. His next of kin were listed as his four sisters; Maria Newell, living at Queen’s Buildings, Southwark Bridge Road, Emma Parmenter, living at Vauxhall, and Rose Wilson and the unmarried younger sister Mary Jane Graham, living at Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith. His father’s name is registered as William Thomas Graham, address unknown.
On a census record for men serving overseas made in 1911, he is registered as living in Cairo. His age at this time is given as 25 and his birth year as 1886. On the census his occupation is also given as ‘Newsagent’.
He enlisted in the Army on Short Service, the Rifle Brigade on 11th November 1905. He gave his age as 21 at the time of enlisting. He served for 9 years at home (10/11/05 to 9/12/06) and in various countries including Malta (10/2/06 to 21/1/09), Egypt (22/1/09 to 4/2/13), India (5/2/13 to 5/2/13), and home (6/2/14 to 7/9/14). During this time he corresponded with Alice Maud Wilson, his future wife. After discharge he planned to buy a taxi, and together with his wife, he walked the streets of London to learn the ‘Knowledge’.
At the outbreak of the First World War in 5th August 1914, being on the Army Reserve, he was recalled at Winchester, sent to France, and was wounded at the first battle of the Marne, 6th to 10th September in 1914, defending Paris. He was left in a shell hole for 3 days and was pulled free by a drummer boy. He was put on a farm cart and travelled for 20 miles before help was provided. His Service Record notes that the injury was a shrapnel wound on the back.
He returned home to the Isle of Grain to convalesce. He was married at St James’ church, Gunnersbury during his convalescence on the 7th April 1915. Later he was transferred from the Rifle Brigade to the Defence Corps, and finally he was discharged on the 21st December, 1917 with the rank of L/Cpl.
He set up home with his wife, Alice, at 399 Chiswick High Road and later at 64 Wellesbry Road, Cheswick, West London. Finding suitable work was very difficult. His first child, Reginald Thomas Graham, was born on 4th November 1918. When his wife was expecting his second child, Joyce Winifred, born on the 7th November 1921, his health broke down. He was admitted to West Middlesex hospital under observation for 3 months and later transferred to Springfield Psychiatric hospital where he was diagnosed with what is now called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He remained in care for 47 years until his death. His wife and two children visited him regularly until he died.
He never recovered from the affects of his wounds. The term ‘battle weary and mentally scarred’, comes to mind. Unfortunately and unfairly, there was a stigma attached to mental illness, suffered by his nearest and dearest. He received the Silver War Badge and Certificate no. 296627 on the January 2nd, 1918, for the injuries he received but there were no V.C.’s or M.C.’s in his case. He received the King’s Certificate No. K.C.D.28037 on January 6th, 1920 and the British War Medal and Victory Medal on May 9th 1922. He was an example of a formally fit serving soldier, with a promising family life, deprived by the futility of war. He was one of the ‘Old Contemptibles’.