George Wilson Graham
| Rank | Lieutenant | |
| Medals | British War Medal, Victory Medal | |
| Regiment | Royal Air Force, 204th Squadron | |
| Military Service | 1916-1917 University of Glasgow OTC cadet 1917 George Graham enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service at Crystal Palace on 12 August. On 15 September he was posted to Vendome and on 30 October to Cranwell from where he failed to graduate on 20 December 1917. 1918 Graham graduated successfully on 2 January [“Very good pilot indeed”] when he was promoted to Flight Sub Lieutenant. He was posted to Manston fighters on 29 January followed by 204 Squadron at Dunkirk on 16 February. On the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 he became a Lieutenant in the new service. On 22 April 1918 he was admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Dunkirk with “incised wound [to] scalp, abrasions, concussion”. The wound was not serious and he was discharged back to his unit on 1 May. “Since joining RNAS flown:- Bristol, Freiston(?), Sop Pup, 1 ½ Strutter, Avro, BE2c, Curtiss, Caudron, Camel” – from Service Record. | |
| Born | 18 May 1899 | |
| Death | 13th July 1918 | |
| Circumstances of Death | On 13 July Camel B6389 from 204 Squadron was posted missing. It was later reported that it had been involved in a collision with another Camel from the same squadron piloted by 2nd Lieut J H Mesham at 4 40pm. Graham’s aircraft was observed to break up and crash into the sea in flames. His body was subsequently washed ashore at Cadzaut [Cadzand, Netherlands?] and was buried there on 10 August 1918. After the War the IWGC transferred his body to Flushing.  Sopwith Camel fighter | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Burial | Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, I. 13.
At present Graham’s remains rest in Flushing Northern Cemetery. However, according to CWGC records, his body was exhumed and moved there in October 1982 from Flushing New General Cemetery. According to his RAF Service Record his body was originally buried at Cadzaut [Cadzand, Netherlands?] and I have not found any information on when it was moved to Flushing New General Cemetery.
| |
| CWGC Information | Son of Dr. James Gibson Graham, M.D., and Margaret Isabella Wilson Graham, of 17, Ashton Terrace, Dowanhill, Glasgow. | |
| Parents | James G Graham (c1863-) & Margaret Wilson (c1875-) | |
| Father's Occupation | Medical doctor, general practitioner | |
| Siblings | James born c1898 | |
| Spouse | unmarried | |
| Education | Glasgow Academy | |
| Occupation | Student at University of Glasgow | |
| 1901 Census | 17 Ashton Terrace, Partick | |
| Home Address | 1918 – 17 Ashton Terrace, Dowanhill, Glasgow | |
| Glasgow Necropolis | Compartment Omega Lair 97 | |
| Other Memorials | University of Glasgow Roll of Honour | |
| Acknowledgements and Sources | Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk), Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org Family Search – www.familysearch.org The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/ Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com Henshaw, T. The sky their battlefield. Air fighting and the complete list of Allied air casualties from enemy action in the First World War: Grub Street Publishers, 1995
| |
Gallery
George Wilson Graham Monument - Omega Glasgow Necropolis
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
