Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GRAHAM, Robert James

Military Cross

Recommendation:-

'On 9/8/18 during the attack on enemy positions between Vauvillers and Lihons, Lieut. Graham behaved with splendid courage and skill. Advancing under heavy fire from the enemy, Lieut. GRAHAM handled his platoon with such judgment that at several critical periods he was able to hold the enemy attacks on Battalion left flank sufficiently to allow the leading Coys. to advance. His skill in doing this undoubtedly materially assisted the leading Coys. to successfully reach the objective. Lieut. GRAHAM, although wounded in the buttock, remained with his platoon and carried on exposing himself to severe fire from the enemy while leading and encouraging his men. His fine leadership and courage were notable during a battle in which much individual gallantry was displayed.'

Recommended- 17 August 1918                                                     Lieut. Col, E. Herrod Commanding 7th Aust. Battalion,  

On embarkation on October 19, 1914 of the 7th battalion G Company, 33 of the 40 men listed their home address from Bendigo. Robert Graham would quickly advance through the ranks and by the November was appointed Lance Corporal and Corporal on April 4, 1915, just nineteen days prior to the landing at Gallipoli.

The Bendigoian Newpaper published the first hand account of his ordeal on June 10, 1915: -

Corporal R. J. Graham, in a letter to his mother, who resides at Allingham Street, Golden-square, under date of Mustapha, 2nd May, wrote :-" After a good voyage we arrived at an island about seven hours sail from the Dardanelles. There were nearly 1700 aboard our boat; there were 24 at my mess, made to hold 17. On the 25th April we pulled in near where we were to land. It was a very exciting time. Everyone was on deck ready to disembark. All the time shells were bursting all around, and the guns on the warships were firing at the enemy on shore. At last it came our turn to land. On the way across two shells burst between two of our boats. Only two men were hit, and neither was seriously wounded. We had to jump out of the boats as best we could, up to our necks in water. Everybody got wet through. We started to advance over very hilly country in the face of a heavy fire. It was terrible. Men were getting shot down all round me, I was expecting to go any moment. I had three narrow escapes. One shot went through the rim of my hat, another shot hit me on the neck and bounded off and hit me in the wrist. All the damage it did was to make a small hole in my sleeve and give me a scar. A piece of a shell went over my head and cut the brace of my equipment in halves, tore a big hole in my tunic, and the two shirts I was wearing. About 5.30 the enemy's fire slackened a bit, and I thought I would advance a little further; I was just getting up when I got a crack in the arm, up near the shoulder. I thought my arm was off. I could not use it so I started to make my way back to the boat. We were under fire all the time. To get back to the boat we had to wade through a creek, up to our knees in water all the time. On arrival at the beach we all had to wait to get on board the launch and get taken on board one of the transports. Here our wounds were dressed, and we were fixed up with beds. The naval men treated us very well, they did everything they could for us. No sooner had we got on board than they brought us a basin of soup. We had a feed and went to bed. I had a very poor night; my arm pained all the time. On Tuesday afternoon we left for Alexandria with six hundred wounded. We arrived there two days later, and were taken to the 15th General Hospital. We were there two days; then some of us were shifted to a convalescent camp about four miles out of Alexandria, on the sea shore. You have no need to worry. I will be alright in about another week or so. I have only four holes in my arm - nothing serious." [1]

Robert Graham would recover, embark once again to the Dardanelles in June 1915, be promoted to Sergeant soon after landing and was wounded again at the August 9 offensive of Lone Pine, this time with a bullet wound to the leg. He would not return to Gallipoli, however, he would join his depleted 7th Battalion as they headed to Europe in late March 1916. He would be wounded again in battle in France on August 22, and evacuated to London for recovery. Whilst there in September he is given a commission to officer rank, a Second Lieutenant. He was seconded to the growing Australian training camps and attended Gas school at Tidsworth. In October 1917, he returned to the front in France, however, in the following May, he finds himself before a General Court Marshall in the field for striking a soldier on May 6, 1918. He pleads ‘Not guilty” however, is found guilty incurring forfeiture of seniority in the battalion. Two months later he undertook heroic actions at Lihons that resulted in an award of the Military Cross. He married Masel Loader in England in March 1919 and they returned to Australia in late June 1919. He would serve as Captain in the Home Guard in World War Two. 

SERVICE DETAILS:

Service No: 786
Born: August 1894
Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Grocers assistant
Address: Allingham Street, Golden Square

Marital status: Single
Age at enlistment: 20
Next of kin: Mother, Mrs Lucy Graham, Allingham street, Golden Square
Enlistment date: 18 August 1914
Unit name: 7th Battalion, G Company
Embarked: A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914
Final Rank: Lieutenant                                                                   Fate: Returned to Australia 10 May 1919

Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67 Date: 3 June 1919

August 9, 1918 -   On 9/8/18 during the attack on enemy positions between Vauvillers and Lihons: - Following the swift victory of August 8, known as the Battle of Amiens, The AIF commander, Sir John Monash was keen to maintain the ascendancy on the following days. The Australian and Canadian forces took the hill and following a stubborn German defence of the village of Lihons involving attacks with gas and tanks, the village was in Allied control on 11 August 1918.

[1] Bendigoian Newspaper, June 10, 1915. P. 24