John GRAHAM DCM

GRAHAM, John

Service Number: 1136
Enlisted: 5 October 1914, Townsville, Queensland
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 9th Infantry Battalion
Born: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, 1 February 1892
Home Town: Townsville, Townsville, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Police constable
Died: Died of wounds, Belgium, 22 September 1917, aged 25 years
Cemetery: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
XXIV. C. 18., Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boonah War Memorial, Brisbane Queensland Police Service Roll of Honour, Mount Alford State School War Memorial, Terang War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

5 Oct 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1136, Townsville, Queensland
22 Dec 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne
22 Dec 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: ''
25 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
25 Apr 1915: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
22 Jun 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
23 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
26 Jul 1916: Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle for Pozières , Gallantry as stretcher bearer
20 Sep 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1136, 9th Infantry Battalion, Menin Road, Shell wound (back)

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

Son of Bernard (Barney) Graham and Mary Clare of Boonah, Qld

"John Graham was sworn in as a Constable in the Queensland Police on the 2 of September 1913. Alongside his friend Private Moynihan, Private Graham gained a leave of absence and embarked aboard the HMAT Themistocles A32 on the 22 of December 1914 as part of the 9th Infantry Battalion.  He served with the rest of his battalion in Egypt before being ordered to Gallipoli. The 9th Battalion as part of the 3rd Brigade was part of the covering force that was first to land at Gallipoli on the 25 of April 1915. His friend Moynihan was killed and Graham was seriously wounded receiving gunshot wounds to the right thigh. Graham was evacuated to Egypt and was about to return to his battalion when the Gallipoli campaign was abandoned and troops withdrawn. Graham and his battalion next saw action on the western front.  Private Graham distinguished himself during the Battle of Pozieres and Mouquent Farm in July – August 1916. Graham received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion in action as a stretcher bearer. He worked continuously for four days with less than six hours rest carrying the wounded across the open in spite of heavy Artillery fire.” Graham then spent six months recovering from an undisclosed disease before returning in June 1917 to his battalion who were training for the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Belgium. Private Graham was wounded in the back by shrapnel during a bombardment in the area of Glencorse Wood; he was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinge where he died of his wounds on the 22 of September 1917, aged 25. " - SOURCE (www.police.qld.gov.au)

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