King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Lieutenant 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.

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.