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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Tuesday 08 November 16 15:47 GMT (UK) »
I PMd you my EMail. If you let me have your email contact I will foward it to Andrew for you
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Tuesday 08 November 16 14:33 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for the birth certificate that clinches the age mistakes. Here's a full version of the photo which Andrew sent to me. It includes two comrades serving with him Jim Fleming and Robert Newell. The latter like Willie was also a member of Aughnagoory Heroes LOL 343B.
Andrew also included a hand written record of Willies exploits written by him on the rear of his letter from the King dated to the 60s. It mentions his travels in Russia New Zealand and other places plus the fact he was held prisoner on a German farm - He certainly had a sense of adventure. I will email him and OK my letting you have his contact details.
Andrew also included a hand written record of Willies exploits written by him on the rear of his letter from the King dated to the 60s. It mentions his travels in Russia New Zealand and other places plus the fact he was held prisoner on a German farm - He certainly had a sense of adventure. I will email him and OK my letting you have his contact details.
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Tuesday 08 November 16 11:10 GMT (UK) »
Andrew Annett kindly sent me some items including a photo of Willie himelf in WW1 uniform plus a copy of the letter handwritten by King George V himself to willie after he was liberated from the POW camp. It reads:
Quote
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
1918
The Queen joins me in welcoming
you on your release from the
miseries and hardships which you have
endured with so much patience &
courage.
During these many months of trial
the early rescue of our gallant officers
& men from the cruelties of their captivity
has been uppermost in our thoughts.
We are thankful that this longed
for day has arrived & that back in
the old country you will be able
once more to enjoy the happiness of
a home & to see good days among
those who anxiously look for your
return
George R. I.
My updated entry on Willie below:
https://aughnahoorylol343b.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/private-willie-graham/
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Sunday 22 May 16 09:12 BST (UK) »
Fantastic thanks very much indeed for this. Here is a draft of the front page of the leaflet im working on with Willie now included.
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Saturday 21 May 16 00:39 BST (UK) »
A friend from Derryogue brought me the above photograph. I believe it is of the soldier Robert Mcknight who you mention. He was killed at the battle of Cambrai. There was also a L/Cpl John Mcknight of 13th RIR also from Derryogue.
Yes I would be very greatful to find a copy of the 1960 photo of Willie. If you could upload a copy somewhere. (I uploaded this one on my Flickr page)
The Sgt Robert Scott VC was an interesting character. Hes the only man who it is said fought in three wars. He won his VC in the Boer war. He went on to serve in the 1st war. He was initially turned down for service in WWII. He wrote to a personal friend from his South African days a certain Mr Churchill who spoke to the RAF saying FIND THAT MAN A JOB! So they did!
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Tuesday 17 May 16 20:31 BST (UK) »
I have been asked to draw up some histories ok Kilkeel men for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in July this year 2016.
Does anyone know if there is a surviving photo of Pte Willie Graham? Also reference the Scott connection I am aware of two Kilkeel Scotts with a military connection. One was Thomas Galbraith Scott – RAF Cadet the other was Sergeant Robert Scott VC leading Aircraft Man No: 4535
I dont know if they were related. Any help greatly appreciated
Does anyone know if there is a surviving photo of Pte Willie Graham? Also reference the Scott connection I am aware of two Kilkeel Scotts with a military connection. One was Thomas Galbraith Scott – RAF Cadet the other was Sergeant Robert Scott VC leading Aircraft Man No: 4535
I dont know if they were related. Any help greatly appreciated
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Thursday 05 February 15 16:26 GMT (UK) »
Looks like the UVF records are closer the mark here. It was there he was listed as being 21 when captured but its hard to make out the details from the photograph of the German record book. There were so many young chaps who falsified their records I thought perhaps Willie fell into that category and my initial check of the census seemed to confirm it.
The battle he was captured at was one of the first uses by the Germans of storm troopers. They deliberately bypassed strong points leaving them for troops following up behind them to take on. It proved their eventual undoing as after initial successes they by that stage of the war couldn't keep up replacing losses and the resources required.
The ground it raged over was largely the same area that the Battle of the Somme had been fought 2 years earlier and where the Ulster 36th Division of which Willie was a member had lost 5500 men in one day. In total the British army lost over 20,000 men that day 1st July 1916 it's biggest loss in battle ever recorded before or since.
The battle he was captured at was one of the first uses by the Germans of storm troopers. They deliberately bypassed strong points leaving them for troops following up behind them to take on. It proved their eventual undoing as after initial successes they by that stage of the war couldn't keep up replacing losses and the resources required.
The ground it raged over was largely the same area that the Battle of the Somme had been fought 2 years earlier and where the Ulster 36th Division of which Willie was a member had lost 5500 men in one day. In total the British army lost over 20,000 men that day 1st July 1916 it's biggest loss in battle ever recorded before or since.
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Thursday 05 February 15 11:56 GMT (UK) »
Willie told the Germans that his birth date which they recorded in 1918 from what he told them himself was Wednesday 22nd of July 1903, but your mention of the census correction would tie in better with the Ulster Volunteer Force records for the period where Willie recorded his age as 21 years old. I dismissed this as many young boys of the period lied about their ages so they coul.d join up. The UVF were the anti home rule forerunner of the Ulster 36th Division which Willie became a member of
German POW record book below:-
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/2867628/1872/24094/
German POW record book below:-
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/2867628/1872/24094/
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Down / Re: Grahams of Kilkeel
« on: Wednesday 04 February 15 17:08 GMT (UK) »
Hi I was doing research into a Willie Graham because as the Orange Hall in Kilkeel is being knocked down I came into posession of its old minute books.
There were about 17 names of members who served in WW1 and I took it upon myself to find out as much as I could about each one
Willie our lodge member was a son of John Graham and like his father was listed as a shoemaker. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1918. Its a fastening story as he was just approaching his 16th birthday when they captured him
I put it on our website plus there's links to the International Red Cross site where they recorded his POW info.
https://aughnahoorylol343b.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/private-willie-graham/
We also had a Private Uriah Graham a member of the Connaught Rangers but i'm not sure they were related.
https://aughnahoorylol343b.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/private-uriah-graham/
Theres an interesting tale I heard about one branch of the clan Graham when I was researching this, as they were allegedly Scottish outlaws and when things became too hot for them in their native Scotland they fled to Ulster and changed their name to Maharg which is Graham (Their original name) backwards in order to stay one step ahead of the pursuing authorities. In the traditional Scottish way this also became Mcharg for some.
Hope this helps
There were about 17 names of members who served in WW1 and I took it upon myself to find out as much as I could about each one
Willie our lodge member was a son of John Graham and like his father was listed as a shoemaker. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1918. Its a fastening story as he was just approaching his 16th birthday when they captured him
I put it on our website plus there's links to the International Red Cross site where they recorded his POW info.
https://aughnahoorylol343b.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/private-willie-graham/
We also had a Private Uriah Graham a member of the Connaught Rangers but i'm not sure they were related.
https://aughnahoorylol343b.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/private-uriah-graham/
Theres an interesting tale I heard about one branch of the clan Graham when I was researching this, as they were allegedly Scottish outlaws and when things became too hot for them in their native Scotland they fled to Ulster and changed their name to Maharg which is Graham (Their original name) backwards in order to stay one step ahead of the pursuing authorities. In the traditional Scottish way this also became Mcharg for some.
Hope this helps
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