Photo: Brian Chandler
Illustrated Chronicle
In Wallsend Church Bank Cemetery is a headstone which reads:
In Loving Memory of
Jane
The beloved wife of
James Wm. Graham
Who died May 18th 1912
Aged 47 years.
Also the above
James Wm. Graham
Who died September 23rd 1938
Aged 74 years.
Also their eldest son
William Geo. Graham
Capt., 5th N.F.
Who was killed in action in France
June 24th 1915 aged 25 years.
Also their son
James Fred. Graham
Who died October 13th 1899
Aged 2 years.
Angela Conroy has submitted the following from St. Peter's Newsletter July 1915:
'Death of Capt. W. G. Graham, 5th N.F.
Killed in Action
It is with sincerest regret and with true sympathy for his relatives that we record the death of Capt. W. G. Graham, killed in action. "Willy Graham" to use the words of affection by which he was known to so many, has died nobly, almost immediately after receiving mention for distinguished service from his superiors. It was a great pride to Wallsend and to St Peter's of which he was a communicant and sidesman, to read of the splendid honour he had gained, of which we were waiting to hear of the details of the deeds which had been thus rewarded. The Rector had just written to congratulate Capt. Graham, when, about a day after, came the sad news of his death, in a letter to his brother-in-law, Mr Briggs. He seems to have died instantly and painlessly, in the trenches, from a shot through the head. Willy Graham possessed many gifts, he was at once a scholar and an athlete, beloved by his pupils when he was on the teaching staff of one of the schools in the Borough (the Stephenson School), and a general favourite with all who knew him. He seems to have found his true vocation in the army, and was beloved by his fellow officers and by his men. He belongs to a family the members of which have for years been earnest in their support of St Peter's, but will soon be leaving for Hong Kong. However, he would have remained here had he been spared to return. But God has some other employment for him. On a grave in Alaska, the grave of one unknown, was seen by a traveller in that distant region, a wooden cross with the simple words, "Brave, faithful, true, and my loving comrade". At these words the traveller tells us, his heart rejoiced. No better words could describe him whom we have lost. His young wife was away from Wallsend when the news came. We will all pray that she may be as brave under this blow as the husband she loves would have wished her to be. Major Luhrs writes that he was buried by his comrades at a graveyard near the place of his death. A Memorial service consisting mainly of Holy Communion, will have been held in St Peter's on Wednesday, June 30th, at 8 a.m.'
The Illustrated Chronicle carried an obituary:
Brave Captain killed
News has been received at Wallsend that Temporary Captain William George Graham, of Hill Grove, Park View, Wallsend, has been killed whilst serving with the 5th Batt.N.F.
Captain Graham was mentioned in the despatch of Sir John French last week for distinguished conduct and gallantry in the field. He was held in very high esteem at Wallsend, having acted as a schoolmaster at the Stephenson School, Willington Quay.
Major Luhrs, in a letter, expresses the feeling of loss which his death has caused among all ranks, and points out that he was one of the best and bravest officers and a true friends of the whole battalion.
He was married only last October to Miss A.E. Briggs.
William George Graham is remembered in Wallsend on W7.04 and W7.19 page 4, in Walker on W2.07, in our List of Teachers Who Fell and in the Battalion Book of Remembrance
