Willington Cemetery
In Willington Cemetery is a family gravestone which reads:-
In Loving Memory of
ANN
Beloved Wife Of
Edward Graham
Feb 5th 1904 Aged 59 Years
Also The Above
EDWARD GRAHAM
Who Died March 5th 1924
Aged 78 Years
Also JONATHAN Their Son
Who Died In France July 16th
1916 Aged 39 Years
Also JOSEPH Their Son
Who Died In France Feb 24th
1917 Aged 37 Years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Graham was born at Willington the youngest of 4 known children he had 2 brothers, a sister and a half-brother.
His father Edward Graham was born and baptised July 4th 1844 at Westwood, Allerdale, Cumberland. At the age of 6 he and his sister Mary (12) were living at Coke Hole Hill, Brocklebank with his grandmother Mary Graham (67) a blacksmith’s widow and her daughter Jane (30). Ten years later he was employed as a farm servant with John Skelton and family, who farmed 70 acres at Newton Field, Allerdale. In 1869 he was married at Penrith to widow Ann Reed who had a 7-year-old son Jeremiah from her previous marriage, they went on to have 4 children of their own Jane Ann 1879, Robert 1873, Jonathan 1877 and Joseph 1879. Whilst living at Westmoreland Edward worked as a railway labourer and when they transferred to Low Willington between 1873 and 1877, he supported his family as a general labourer. He eventually found work as a bricklayer’s labourer and eldest son Robert (18) was employed as a coal miner. In 1891 they were living at 2, Hutton Terrace, by 1901 both Robert and Jonathan had married and left home, Joseph was an apprentice blacksmith. Ann Graham nee Reed died February 5th 1904 aged 59 years
Joseph Graham emigrated to Canada, exact date unknown and enlisted on the outbreak of war as Private 736409 assigned to the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion Canadian Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division made up of recruits from the 91st Canadian Highlanders, 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlander, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the 50th Regiment Gordon Highlanders. Private 736409 Joseph Graham Canadian Infantry died February 24th 1917 whilst on active service of heart failure and interred at Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois, Pas de Calais, France, grave VII. C. 8. He was 37 years old. Recipient of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and possibly the 1914-15 Star had he served oversea during that period.
His brother Jonathan Graham served with the Royal Scots and was killed in action on the Somme. He left a widow and 3 children. Awards British War Medal, Victory Medal and possibly the 1914-15 Star.
Edward Graham of 10, Park View, Willington died March 5th 1924 aged 78 years and was buried with his wife at St. Stephen’s Churchyard, Willington, probate in the sum of 135 pounds 15 shillings 3 pence was granted to Robert Wyld, colliery deputy overman, March 28th 1924.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Graham is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.
