GRAHAM, David
| Service Numbers: | 2906, 2906A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, October 1872 |
| Home Town: | Newport, Hobsons Bay, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | 2 SW to head and meningitis, Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom, 7 July 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery (Row 13, Grave No. 4), Scotland, Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery, Paisley, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2906, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2906, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2906, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Sydney | |
| 30 Mar 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 20th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2906A, 20th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), SW to face - 2 penetrating head. DoW and Meningitis | |
| 7 Jul 1917: | Involvement Private, 2906A, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2906A awm_unit: 20 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-07-07 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 7th July .... Private David Graham was born at Bendigo, Victoria around 1872. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 14th June, 1916 as a 43 year old, single, Miner from Newport, Victoria.
Private David Graham embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 25th October, 1916 with the 56th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 28th December, 1916 where he would receive further training before being sent to the War Front.
Private Graham arrived in France on 1st March, 1917 & joined 56th Battalion on 21st March, 1917. He was transferred to “A” Company, 20th Battalion on 23rd March, 1917.
Private David Graham was wounded in action in France on 2nd May, 1917. He was admitted to Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to his face then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station then on to Hospital at Rouen, France on 5th May, 1917. Private Graham was reported as dangerously ill on 10th May, 1917 but was removed from the dangerously ill list on 19th May, 1917. He was invalided to England on a Hospital Ship & admitted to University War Hospital, Southampton, England on 23rd May, 1917 dangerously ill with gunshot wounds to face. He was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on 4th June, 1917 suffering from mental trouble.
Private David Graham died at 9.45 pm on 7th July, 1917 at Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley, Scotland from wounds received in action and Meningitis following gunshot wounds to head. (Dykebar War Hospital was for patients with mental diseases.)
Private David Graham was buried on 11th July, 1917 in Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Private David Graham contains a letter from Matron, Dykebar War Hospital, Paisley – “No. 2906 Pte D. Graham of the 20th Batn A.I.F. was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital France 5th May 1917 with two penetrating wounds of left side of head. X Rays showed shell splinters and after operation for removal of these, he became delirious and confused. In this condition he was sent to us via Netley reaching this hospital in an exhausted and weak condition. He rallied a little and at first seemed to gain strength, but he gradually sunk and died on 7.7.17. A Specialist was called in to see him with the hope that some further private treatment might save Graham’s life but he was unable to suggest more than had been done. Although conscious till near the end Graham was confused and rambling and difficult to understand. He did not seem to be in any pain except for headaches in the earlier part of his illness, and the end came very peacefully. He was visited by the Hospital Chaplain.”
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-hawkhead.html
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