On the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France is the name of 102782 Sapper Thomas Graham serving with the 178th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers who died 06/09/1915.

He was the husband of Eliza Graham, of Gate House, Prospect Terrace, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Thomas Graham was born 1880 in Redworth, Durham. At the age of 22 he married a widow from Lancashire, Eliza Stott, July 12th 1902, in Oldham. Eliza was 10 years older than Thomas and had a daughter of 12, named Minnie, from her first marriage. They set up home in Ferryhill at 14, Gordon Terrace and he was employed as a stoneworker at the local colliery.

Thomas enlisted in Ferryhill, June 16th 1915 for the duration of the war, giving his address as 3, Herford Terrace. He was assigned as Sapper 102782 Royal Engineers and transferred to France 6 days later June 22nd. He was one of many experienced miners deployed as they could tunnel safer and quicker, they were mainly used on the Western Front digging trenches towards enemy lines, laying underground mines and tunnelling towards and under the enemy lines.

To this effect July 1st 1915 he was transferred to the 178th Tunnelling Company. Sapper 102782 Thomas Graham was killed in action September 6th 1915 and has no known grave. His sacrifice is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France, pier 8A & 8D, commemorating over 72,000 officers and men from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918. He was 36 years old.

His widow Eliza was informed of his death two weeks later but it was not until March 27th 1916 that she was assigned a pension of 15 shillings a week for her upkeep.

Thomas’s awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to her in 1923 to the address of Gate House, Prospect Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Thomas Graham is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill on F38.02