Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War North Africa operations M.M. group of six awarded to Fusilier R. Graham, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was decorated for his gallant work during Rommel’s last major offensive in March 1943

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4269003 Fsr. R. Graham, North’d Fus.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4269003 Fsr. R. Graham, R. North’d Fus.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (6) £1200-1400

M.M. London Gazette 25 November 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘At Medenine on the 6th March 1943 when Rommel counter-attacked, Fusilier Graham was a driver in a Machine Gun Section which was being attacked from the rear and flank. He was to be found in the thick of the fighting and his initiative in taking up positions with which he could best deal with the enemy, disregarding his personal safety, resulted in the enemy being driven off. Later he crept forward to help bring in an Italian prisoner back to our lines, although his post was subjected to heavy fire both from the enemy and our own troops, he stuck to it and remained cheerful and alert throughout which had a great moral effect on the section. In the evening he volunteered to go out and mend the line which ran from the Company on our right and which was in front of all the positions; he was able to mend the line despite the fact that it was a thousand yards to the Company on the right and the enemy had cut the wire and pulled a great deal of it towards his lines. At all times Fusilier Graham was extremely cool and used great initiative in tasks above his ordinary duties.’

Robert Graham, who was from Wallsend, Tyneside, is mentioned in Barclay's regimental history:

‘As the tanks advanced towards the Wadi, the machine-guns sprayed them with bullets to force the tanks to close up their armoured panels and so reduce the drivers’ visibility. When this had been achieved the machine-guns switched to the lorries of infantry behind and caused complete disorganisation and many casualties. In the meantime the anti-tank gunners of the Queen's, who had held their fire until the last moment, opened up as hard as they could. The effect was immediate: tanks halted and others caught fire. These 6-pounder crews did gallant work and inflicted heavy damage before they themselves were knocked out. This initial blow caused the enemy to halt his attack and those tanks which were still mobile moved into the shelter of the wadi, where they were still in full view of one machine-gun section. This section lay low and held their fire until the crews of the tanks, feeling they were safe, got out to survey the damage and hold a conference. The machine-guns dealt severely with this misunderstanding. At this time the artillery were given the map reference of the tanks by the machine-gun Platoon Commander and they concentrated a mass of shells into the small area. In the mean time some of the lorried infantry had been organised into an effective force and had infiltrated up into the hills around Lt. D. Puleston's No. 13 Platoon. The country here was not suitable for machine-guns, so Lt. Puleston sent out any men who could be spared from the guns, as small fighting patrols. These were most successful in driving the enemy off after inflicting many casualties. Fusilier R. Graham, one of the platoon drivers, did gallant work with a rifle and was subsequently awarded the Military Medal .... As night fell the enemy withdrew, after having been soundly beaten in what was one of the shortest and most decisive battles of the war. It was Rommel's last attempt at large-scale offensive action in North Africa.’